Killesk Castle

This is a fortified church . It was built for defensive purposes like the fortified church in Clonmines. It could be used by the monks as a place of sanctuary before the tower at Dunbrody was built. It has been called "a church of ease" belonging to Dunbrody. This means it was not the main church but could be used by people living far from the abbey. The site for the church was well chosen as it has a stream flowing near by and was a wooded area. Killesk or Cill Uisce in Irish means "the church near the water." The church is surrounded by a low earthen bank, about 1 metre high,and this too was for defending the church.

The church is made up of two parts- the defensive tower and the church. The church is joined to the tower on the eastern side.

People who lived in Killesk Church

The first mention of the church is in 1370 when it was granted to the Abbot and Monastery of Dunbrody for ever according to the historian Hore. It is possible that the monks used the church as a refuge when Dunbrody Abbey was suppressed in 1536 by King Henry 8th. Later the Glascotts owned land in Killesk and Knockea. More Information