Killeigh

This article will address the issue of Killeigh, which has become very relevant in recent times. Killeigh is a topic that impacts a large number of people in different areas of life, whether professional, personal, social or cultural. Throughout this article, different aspects related to Killeigh will be explored, from its origin and evolution to its possible future implications. Different perspectives and opinions on the matter will also be analyzed, with the aim of offering a complete and enriching vision of this topic of great interest to today's society.

Killeigh
Irish: Cill Aichidh
Village
Killeigh Village
Killeigh Village
Killeigh is located in Ireland
Killeigh
Killeigh
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°12′50″N 7°27′00″W / 53.214°N 7.450°W / 53.214; -7.450
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyOffaly
Elevation
99 m (325 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
183
Irish Grid ReferenceN368181

Killeigh (Irish: Cill Aichidh, meaning "church of the field")[2] is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located around 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of the county town of Tullamore, on the N80 national secondary road; the Slieve Bloom Mountains lie to the south. The village of Killeigh, which lies within the civil parish of Geashill,[3] had a population of 183 in 2022.[1]

Religion

An abbey, historically associated with St Sinchell, was reputedly founded at Killeigh (from Irish Cill Aichidh, meaning 'church of the field') in the 6th century.[4] A priory was established by Augustinian nuns in the 12th century, and a Franciscan friary founded in Killeigh in the late 13th century.[4][5] The friary was dissolved in the 16th century.[4]

The current Church of Ireland church in Killeigh, which incorporates part of the remains of the older friary,[4][6] was built in the 17th century.[7] It was "substantially repaired" in the 1830s.[7] It lies within the Diocese of Meath and Kildare.[8]

The local Catholic church, which is dedicated to Saint Patrick,[9] is in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.[10] The current church was built in 1971,[9] replacing an older 19th-century building that was demolished in the 1970s.[11] This church is one of three in Killeigh parish.[12] According to its website, Killeigh parish is the largest in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin and the second largest Catholic parish in the country.[13]

A holy well and rag tree, associated with St Sinchell,[4] is located in Killeigh townland and contains architectural fragments from the nearby monastic site.[14][15]

In the 2022 census, approximately 86% indicated that they were Catholic, 1% were of other religions and 13% had no religion or no stated religion.[1]

Sport

Statue, commemorating 'Mick the Miller', in Killeigh

Killeigh was the birthplace of the racing greyhound 'Mick the Miller', and a statue has been placed on the village green to commemorate this dog.[16]

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Clodiagh Gaels, was founded in 2015 following an amalgamation between the clubs representing Killeigh and Killurin.[17] Both clubs had already united at juvenile and underage levels as Na Fianna. The combined club is named for the Clodiagh River.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Census Interactive Map - Towns: Killeigh - Population Snapshot". visual.cso.ie. Central Statistics Office. 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Cill Aichidh/Killeigh". logainm.ie. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Sub-units of: Géisill/Geashill". logainm.ie. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Killeigh". visitoffaly.ie. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  5. ^ "NMS mapping data - OF025-017003-". Retrieved 11 November 2024 – via heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com.
  6. ^ "NMS mapping data - OF025-017001-". Retrieved 11 November 2024 – via heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com.
  7. ^ a b "Killeigh Church (Geashill), Killeigh, Killeigh, Offaly". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Geashill Union of Parishes". meathandkildare.org. Church of Ireland. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Our Churches". killeigh.com. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Parish of Killeigh". kandle.ie. Kildare & Leighlin Diocese. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Killeigh Church (Geashill), Killeigh, Killeigh, Offaly". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Parish of Killeigh". Kandle. Kildare & Leighlin Diocese. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Killeigh Parish". www.killeigh.com. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Killeigh, Holy Well and Rag Tree, Co. Offaly". thestandingstone.ie. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  15. ^ "NMS mapping data - OF025-017006-". Retrieved 11 November 2024 – via heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com. OF025-017006- : Ritual site - holy well : Killeigh associated with nearby monastic site with many architectural fragments from the nearby Abbey (OF025-017----) lying around the well
  16. ^ "Mick the Miller - Monument". mickthemiller.com. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Offaly GAA club launches development plan". Offaly Live. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Clodaigh Gaels". killeigh.com. Retrieved 11 November 2024. The River Clodiagh is the river from Which the new club derives its name