Killeavy Old Churches Ring of Gullion County Armagh

Today we are at Killevy Old Churches at the foot of Slieve Gullion in county Armagh. Come and explore them out for yourself. Here we have back to back churches! The West Church dates from 11th Century and the East Church from 15th Century. These two churches are also the site of an early monastery founded by St. Moninna in 517. It is one of the most important monasteries for nuns in Medieval Ireland. Moninna's real name was Darerca and it would appear that she came from the Donaghmore area of County Down, between Newry and Banbridge. As there were no converts in the area, Monnina went to the west of Ireland to join St. Ibar. Later Monnina was to travel to Faughart in County Louth. this was St Brigid’s birthplace. She then moved a short distance to Killevey, where she founded her main monastery, Cill Sleibhe Cuilinn, The Church of Slieve Gullion or Killevey, in south Armagh. It remained a house of nuns for almost 1000 years – one of only four women’s foundations in Ireland to survive as major convents. Although plundered by the Vikings in 923, monastic life managed to continue and the site was occupied by the Augustinian Nuns until 1542. The church ruins comprise two distinct churches joined lengthwise. The smaller and older one is characterised by a most impressive, low lintel doorway built of three massive shaped granite stones. The more recent building, an Augustinian Convent, has a very impressive arched window with angel carvings still visible on its outside. The large tree-lined graveyard is still in use today. The west church is the only surviving pre-Norman church in County Armagh and its massive lintelled door dates from the 10th century. A pictorial map of 1609 shows that Killevy once had a round tower. It was blown down in a gale in about 1768. Nearby is a large granite slab which is reputed to mark Monnina’s grave, with a holy well further up the hill which is still visited by pilgrims on her feast day, July 6th.