Kilbrittain Church was built in 1790 at a time when the Catholic Church in Ireland was beginning a recovery from the Penal Laws. Fr. Patrick Geran, a Franciscan, who had been serving the people since 1760, was responsible. This church located in a new area on the edge of the small village replaced the old church on the other side of the river. The ruins of the old church (see picture below) are still seen in the old Kilbrittain Cemetery in a area now known as Clashavanna.

The main isle of the new church was extended sometime in the 1840s. The church was dedicated to St. Patrick on 10th June 1892. In recent years the nails and batons holding on the slates had deteriorated so much that slates kept slipping. It was decided to re-slate the church and also do any repairs that might show up. A tender of nearly €150,000.00 was accepted and work began in January 2004. The final cost will run to a figure in the region of €170,000.00. The work should be completed in March/April 2004. A fund raising appeal was launched in the parish in February asking each household to contribute. The appeal was generously accepted and money was collected in the last week of February.

Renovation in progress, :

Email:
parish@kilbrittain.net

A view of the church with the renovations completed can be seen by clicking on
New Roof and Porch

 

The remains of the old Church at Clashavanna, Kilbrittain thought to have been intact and possibly still in use around 1615, although in ruins by 1699. The church is situated North East of Kilbrittain village in a rectangular graveyard on a South facing slope, the graveyard is still occasionally used. The ruined church and graveyard overlook the village to the South West where St. Patricks Church can be seen in the background.

For more pictures around the Kilbrittain area visit www.kilbrittain.net/history/pictures.htm.

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