When two Kilbarrons met!
National Heritage Week 2025 is about exploring our foundations, either through the built, cultural or folklore heritage. This year Kilbarron Terryglass Historical Society are heading to Co Laois, which has huge connections with St Columba, who founded the monastery in Terryglass in 548.
Next Saturday, August 23, we will travel to Laois to learn more of the area where St Columba hailed from and where the Book of Leinster, written in Terryglass, was found and derived its name. Due to the huge interest, we have had to close the booking for this trip. This journey, looking at the foundations of our parish, began last May, when two Kilbarrons met! We travelled with one main purpose, to visit the other Kilbarron parish and church in Donegal, associated with St Barron, who also is associated with the ‘Old Kilbarron Church’ down by the lake near Coolbawn, here in Tipperary.
On May 21 we arrived at Creevy Primary School and were welcomed by Kilbarron Castle and Church Conservation Group. Seventeen members of Kilbarron Terryglass Historical Society visited Old Kilbarron Church, Ballyshannon and the Franciscan Friary in Rossnowlagh.
The visit took place on the feast day of St Barron, who gave the name ‘Kilbarron’ to both locations.
LIVELY BANTER
Amid lively banter about who St Barron belongs to, historical perspectives were discussed, information on approaches to conservation shared, and the beginnings of a network formed as we and our hosts shared refreshments in Creevy.
Archaeologist Bridget Brennan delivered a presentation on the history of Kilbarron church, including its folklore. Fergus Cleary, Chairperson of Kilbarron Castle and Church Conservation Group, made a presentation on the recent consolidation work carried out on Kilbarron Church. This work was made possible through funding by the Heritage Council and Community Monuments Fund. We were very interested in seeing the work carried out, as it is hoped that similar work will be carried out on Old Kilbarron Church in Tipperary. The fourteenth-sixteenth century Kilbarron Church, Donegal, was built on the site of the earlier sixth century church founded by St Colmcille, who appointed St Barron, as Bishop. Both St Colmcille and St Barron were descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages. St Barron is also associated with St Brendan the Navigator.
The present church was built by the O’Clearys / O’Cleirigh. Michael O’Cleirigh was one of the authors of the ‘Annals of the Four Masters’, a collection of Medieval Irish history (Information courtesy of Bridget Brennan, Archeologist).
Our itinerary included a visit to the friary, where Fr Eugene Barrett, OFM, Guardian of the Franciscan Friary (and a Tipperary native, hailing from Clonmel) welcomed us. Over the next couple of days, we explored Donegal town and surrounds, returning home to continue exploring our foundations and planning our Heritage Week trip to Co Laois next weekend.
We would like to thank Kilbarron Castle and Church Conservation Group who made us feel very welcome and we look forward to their return visit.
This event is supported by the Heritage Council and Tipperary Co Council.