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The
Ordnance Survey map shows an old church and St.
Patrick's Well in Lacken townland. It is not known
if this is older than the ruins in Kilglass graveyard,
which appears to date from the late Middle Ages.
Kilglass may be the successor to an older church
on the same site.
There
are the ruins of a Penal Day church in Leaffoney
townland, which tradition says was in use after
the time Father Lavelle came to the parish, (l83l).
The site of a Mass-house is also pointed out on
Michael Sweeney's land in Quigabar.
Tradition
also points out the Chapel Field in Glann, where
it is said that Dr. Bellew gave Confirmation to
a large number of people. He died in l8l2.
The
Irish Calendar of Patent Rolls of James I lists
the following among grants in Tieragh made in l6l8
to Donogh O'Dowde of Dunmeakan, Esq.... an old stone
house adjoining the little church of Iniskerowan...It
is not certain whether this refers to one of the
churches mentioned above or to a separate church.
The old Kilglass church had gone out of use before
the end of the l7th century. In it there is the
tombstone of Coronet James Woods, who died in l692.
At
one time this used to be mistaken for the tomb of
Duald McFirbis, who was stabbed to death at Doonflin
in l670 while on his way to Dublin, although then
over 80 years old.
In
the church also there is a gravestone to the memory
of Rev. Anthony Bourke, P.P. of Kilglass and Canon
of Ardagh, who died on 2O/4/l803, at the age of
59. Up to l829,
when
Kilglass Church of Ireland church was built, the
old graveyard was the only burial place for all
the residents in the area.
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