KILREA,
or KILREE, a parish, in the barony of KELLS, county of
KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (N. W.) from
Knocktopher, on the road from Kilkenny
city to Waterford city ; containing 611 inhabitants.
It composes 1895 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act.
Kilree
is the residence of T. Shaw, Esq. ; and Chapel Izod, of
W. Izod; Esq.
It is
a rectory, in the diocese of Ossory,
forming part of the union of Kells;
the tithes amount to £130. 5s. 6d.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions it forms part of the union or district
of Donemagan.
Among
the ruins of the church is a very handsome and perfect cross, formed
of a single block of freestone, about eight feet high, ornamented with
interlaced rings. Tradition states it to have been erected to commemorate
the death of Neill Callan, King of Ireland, who it is stated
was drowned while endeavouring to save the life of a nobleman who bad
fallen into a river. Here is also the tomb of Richard Comerford
and his wife, dated 1622, and ornamented with hieroglyphics of the crucifixion,
&c. About 10 feet from the north-western angle of the church, is
an ancient round tower, which at four feet above the ground is 50½
feet in circumference : it is about 90 feet high, and the door is five
feet from the ground.
