Cloonfad Web Page

Our parish is Kiltullagh. We claim to have been evangelised by St. Patrick, who built his church on the hill. On a clear day, the view from the top of the hill is well worth the climb, then you can appreciate why Kiltullagh means The Church of the Hill.

The territory then was ruled by Prince Enda, a brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Saint's words so touched the Prince's daughter that she became Patrick's first convert, gave all her gold ornaments to help build the church, became a nun and founded her convent there under his jurisdiction - parts of the foundations and the walls may still be seen. Senmeda is said to be the name of the first nun.

We are told St. Patrick made a prolonged stay in Kiltullagh leaving Loman, his disciple in charge of the district.

In 1441 a Franciscan Monastery was founded by the O' Flynn chiefs. This was burned by Cromwells troops in the mid seventeenth century. Tradition has it too that these troops intended to plunder the Friary in Ballyhaunis, but the hill of Cloonfad was to steep for their heavy guns and they put it off to a more convenient time and instead, turned their attention to Ballintubber Abbey.

In September 2000, during a 'dig', the ruins of this monastery together with the charred roof timber was discovered.

As the life of a parish is centered around it's church, so we can learn of the lives of the people by learning of these churches. An early Church is to be found in Kiltobar, called Teampeall Muire or simply Teampeallin. Kiltobar, in addition has the claim of having the earliest cemetery in this district. Originally, it was a burial ground for unbaptised infants, but it is almost certain that many adults were buried there, particularly during the Famine years.

There was a Church in Ballykilleen and part of the old walls are to be seen there today. Near the church was a small cemetery and the custom prevailed for a long time of bringing clay from this cemetery to new graves. On the main road from Dunmore to Kiltullagh, which did not follow the present road, but went through Cloonarkin, then on through Derrylahan to Lowberry Cross a church named Shean - Cille was situated, between Cloonarkin and Derrylahan. It was still being used when Cromwells troops under Coote marched by to destroy Kiltullagh Monastery and needless to say, they did not hesitate to destroy Shean-Cille.