Stop 2: Kilbunny church
It is
believed that the site of Kilbunny Church (Cill Bunna) may have been used as a
religious site in pagan times. Notice the human head jutting out from the north
door jamb and the ram’s head sticking out over the south one. Look at the
carved head of a lion above the north side. In olden times there was a monastery
on the site. At one time there were more than 200 monks living there. It was a
very busy place. It is hard to imagine this when you look around at the jumbled
up graveyard and the ruins of the small church. We believe the church is called
after the Irish martyr Munna, whose feast day is October 21st.
An
incised stone bearing a pontifical figure had upon it the legend, St Moninne
Episcopus. This stone was discovered by Dr. Martin of Portlaw.
The church was re-built in the 11th Century and has an Irish
Romanesque doorway.
There is
a legend that Brian Boru was running from his enemies the O’Kennedy’s of
North Tipperary and he came through Portlaw on his way to Dublin. He is supposed
to have gone to mass at Kilbunny Church.
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| There is a big cross at the church and was erected by the people of Portlaw and was blessed by Father Sean Nugent on the 15th of August 1986 |
To Stop 3
