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 Kells Priory Many people in Ireland either under estimate or are ignorant of the signifiance of Kells as the medevial capital of Kilkenny. Situated on the bank of the King's River the Priory is one of the largest and most magnificent mediaeval monuments in Ireland. Mediaeval towers and long walls enclose some 3 acres of ruins. The Prior's tower, like the other towers, would originally have had three or four floors of timber. The recesses in the stone walls where the huge floor beams were inserted can be seen in this and the other towers. The church dates back to original times, its nave, north transcept and Lady chapel being planned and much of it built during the lifetime of it's founder. The tower in the center of the church, like the Prior's tower and another biult into the west end of the chancel, were not added until centuries later. Kells Priory was founded by Geoffrey FitzRobert in 1193. FitzRobert was brother-in-law to Strongbow and the priory replaced an earlier church, which was dedicated to St. Mary, and served as parish church to nearby Kells village. For the next 150 years the priory was attacked and burned on three occasions, firstly by Lord William de Bermingham in 1252, by the Scots army of Edward Bruce on Palm Sunday 1326, and by a second William de Bermingham in 1327. In 1324, during Lent, the Bishop of Ossory Richard de Ledrede paid a visit to the priory. Following an inquisition into a Kilkenny sect of heretics, Alice Kytler and William Outlaw were ordered to appear before the Bishop to answer charges of witchcraft. Outlaw was supported by Arnold de Paor, Lord of Kells who arrested the Bishop and had him imprisoned in Kilkenny Castle for 17 days. This caused great scandal and on his release the Bishop successfully prosecuted the heretics. Alice Kytler fled to England and remained there, Alice Smith also fled, but her mother Petronella de Meath became Ireland's first heretic to be burned at the stake. Dissolution of Kells Priory finally took place in March 1540 and the church and property were surrendered to James Butler, Ninth Earl of Ormonde. Like many towns in Ireland that are built on rivers, milling played an important part. And so too it did for Kells. At one time there were seven working mills in or around the village. The earliest known one existed around 1170, and was owned by Baron Geoffrey FitzRobert de Marisco.
 Kilree Just 1.5km from Kells lies the ancient monastic settlement of Kilree, It contains the three elements of pre-Norman Irish Church settlement - church, round tower and high cross. Litle is known of its pre - Norman history, but the sheer scale of its buildings suggest that it was an important monastic settlement. It is believed that Niall Caille is buried at the site. He drowned in 844, in the Kings River while trying to rescue a servant, is buried on the site. The church dates back to around 800 AD. The nearby High Cross is reputed to have been erected in Niall Caille’s honour. Although many historians debate this and believe it to be slightly older. The Round Tower is over 20 meters high. And most likely dates from around the same time. Its purpose was as a bell tower and a place of refuge in time of invasion.
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