Main Street Kilbehenny in the 1930's   (photo kindly given to us by Margaret Boland)

Kilbehenny and Anglesboro Parish ( History)

The only church ruins still standing in the parish are in the Old Graveyard in Kilbehenny.   This church goes back to pre-reformation times.   It was a Franciscan Church under the control of the Franciscan Abbey in Adare, Co. Limerick.   The chalice used had 'Franciscan Abbey Adare' engraved on it.  This chalice had been buried during Penal Times and was later recovered and refurbished at a cost of eighty pounds.   It was removed from the church and taken to Thurles.  Despite repeated attempts, it was was never returned to Kilbehenny.

The Protestant report of 1731 states that there was a Mass House in Kilbehenny in 1727.  This building was situated in Knockrour.  

This chapel  was replaced in the 1820’s by a new and more elaborate church built down by the roadside by a Fr. Kirby who was parish priest at the time.  This building served as a church for fifty years and then as the school until 1941.  It was used as a hall until 1974 when it was demolished and three houses were built on the site.

St. Joseph's Church Kilbehenny

The present church, St. Joseph's, was built between the years 1872 and 1874.   The parish priest in charge of the building at that time was Rev. Joseph Ryan.  The church was designed by Mr. Creedon, an architect from Fermoy.
In the early years, the church had only a mud floor and had very little seating.   Only the wealthier families, who could afford to buy their own seats, could sit down.  

There are five stained glass windows in Kilbehenny Church on each side of the sanctuary.   Each of the ten windows portray a figure of the Catholic Church: Jesus, Mary, St. Patrick, St. Columba, St. Brigid, and the four evangelists,  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.   The tenth window on the right as one enters the sanctuary, commemorates St. Ita.   With the vivid colours of stained glass, St. Ita is dressed in a purple and emerald robe with a blue headpiece. 

St. Joseph's Church Kilbehenny

Church of Ireland

There was a Protestant church in Kilbehenny on the side where the community hall now stands.  Robert, Earl of Kingston built it in 1844. The first Minister was Rev. Kearney. 

The Old graveyard and medieval church are of significant historical interest. Many graves date back over 300 years.   Amongst some of those interred there is the patron of Mitchelstown, John Mandeville who was involved in the Land League.  The engravings on many of the head stones are carved in great detail and carried out with a hammer and chisel.

                                    John Mandeville

      John Mandeville, laid under this Celtic Cross in the Old Graveyard in Kilbehenny.