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.
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