Our Lady Queen of Peace, Kilmanagh

History

The present church at Kilmanagh, under the title Our Lady, Queen of Peace, was built in 1973. It replaced St Edan's Church, which had been built in 1793 and extensively renovated in 1915; St Edan's was demolished when the present church arrived.

Kilmanagh forms a portion of the parish of Ballycallan, a union of the ancient parishes of Ballycallan, Kilmanagh and Killaloe. The name Kilmanagh derives from the Irish words cill, a church, and manach, monks, and signifies the church of the monks. The parish history records that it was so called from a monastery which formerly stood in this place.

The building

The church is circular in plan and was built to accommodate the liturgy of the Mass introduced by the Second Vatican Council. It stands centrally in the village of Kilmanagh.

Notable features

Two stained glass windows from the earlier St Edan's Church were fitted into the southern wall of the present church, and are the only items to survive from that building.