Killevy Churches, Co Armagh

Killevy Churches (J040220), in Ballintemple townland, is the site of an early important nunnery founded by St Moninna (Darerca or Bline) in the 5th century. She first founded a nunnery at Faughart c 484. She moved with her nuns to Beg-erin under St Ibar but finally returned north before the end of the century and settled at Killevy. Moninna died about 517. About a century later St Conchenna was abbess of Killevy. She was the sister of St Lugad of Clonfeacle. Killevey was plundered by Norsemen in 790 and in 923. The great store of the nuns' was damaged in 1146. About this time Killevy became a convent of Augustinian nuns and remained thus until its dissolution in 1542. The last abbess was Alicia Negan McDonnechy O'Hanlon. The site was granted to Sir Marmaduke Whitechurch.

View Of The West Doorway

There are two churches aligned in a row E-W and linked by later walling. The W church is the older building. Its W gable has a massive lintelled doorway and may date from the 10th or 11th century. The rest of the church is from the 12th century. There is a small round-headed east window. The low flat-headed S doorway may be a later insertion. For many years it was blocked by a large stone font. This is now missing.

View From The South East

The larger E church may date from the 15th century. It has a large E window with two greatly weathered masks. There was probably a third mask at the apex of the window but this is now missing. A thick stone slab with a faintly inscribed cross lies against the exterior of the E wall of the W church.

The East Window Of The West Church

The reputed burial place of St Moninna is marked by a large granite slab near the N edge of the graveyard. St Moninna's Well, on the nearby hillside, has a modern cover. Beside it is a fine rag tree.