St Ultan Corratinner, Killinkere, Roman Catholic

The Church at Upper Killinkere takes its name from St. Ultan, a well-known patron of children, whose Abbey was established at Ardbraccan between Kells and Navan in the 6th Century. He is reputed to have travelled to Killinkere and founded the first Christian Church in the area.

For many centuries the site of St. Ultan’s was at Gallon, about 1km from the present church. The ruins, which still stand there were part of a monastic settlement dating from the 14th to the 16th Century.

The Monastery was destroyed and abandoned between the Inquisition of 1590, the Ulster Plantation and the Act of Settlement of 1641. Killinkere had no Catholic Church throughout Penal Times.

In 1780 a mud-thatched hut was erected near the entrance of the existing church. Then in 1829 at the instigation of Bishop Browne, Fr. Fitzsimmons PP and Fr. John Brady CC the present church was begun. The builders were Cuffe & Brady from Virginia and the church was completed by Christmas Day 1829 at a total cost of £330.

The present structure reflects credit on the builders at this time and the pastors and people of the past 170 years. There have been a number of notable renovations in the interior during the 1920’s the 1960’s and the 1990’s.

[ St. Ultan’s Church, Killinkere ]