Parish History

Church of the Sacred Heart, Templemore: Erected in 1883

St. James’ Church, Killea: Erected in 1832

Church of St. Anne, Clonmore: Erected 1832

The parish of Templemore, Clonmore & Killea is situated partly in the barony of Eliogarty and partly in that of Ikerrin. It embraces the old civil parishes of Killea, Killavinoge, Templemore in Ikerrin and Templemore in Eliogarty.

Corkatenny

The former name of the area around Templemore was Tuath Corca Tenne, the territory of the people of Tenne. According to legend, Tenne, nephew of Nial of the Nine Hostages, came from Connaught and occupied much of the modern Templemore area. In time, Corca Tenne was anglicised as Corkatenny, the name by which the Templemore area was known until the latter half of the 16th century. Even a century later the old name had still not died out altogether.

Templemore

derives its name from the Teampall Mór or great church which was built in the area of the modern Town Park c.1200 A.D. The ruins of that church are still extant.

Killea

Cill Aodh (Aodh’s or Hugh’s Church), commemorates on or other of the many Irish saints who bear that names. The place-name may also derive from Cill Liath, the grey church or Cill Shléibhe, the mountain church.

Clonmore

Cluain Mhór, (the large meadow), is the modern name of the old parish of Killavinoge, cill dhá bhfinneóg, the church of St. Dabhinog or Winnoc.

The present union of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea is of relatively recent origin. It appears that Killea and Templeree (Castleiney) emerged as a separate pastoral entity following the upheaval in Church organisation which accompanied the Reformation and its aftermath. During the mid decades of the 18th century parish boundaries in the wider Templemore area fluctuated quite considerably. Killea, Templemore and Templeree (Castleiney) remained as a single unity until c.1670 when the latter was detached rom Templemore and united to Loughmore. At or about the same time, Killavinoge (Clonmore) was taken from Moyne and Templetouhy and joined to Killea and Templemore. The exact date of these changes is uncertain, though most likely they occurred in the period 1755 to 1764.

An Teampall Mór

the large church of Corca Tenne, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and later known as Templum Magnum or great church, provided Templemore with its name. The ruins of this church are still extant in Templemore Town Park, at the east side of the lake. There is uncertainty regarding the date when this church was built. Some suggest it may have preceded the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the late 12th century. Others maintain that it dates from the early years of the 13th century while others again opt for a 14th century date of origin. The Teampall Mór, which was surrounded by a moat, was situated in the townland of Kiltillane. The town of Templemore lies in this townland which derives its name from St Síleán, patron saint of the parish. It is possible that St Síleán’s church occupied the site of the medieval great church. The medieval church by the lake was a large one. The combined internal measurement of chancel and nave was 31.7m (104 feet) long and 6.7m. (22 feet) wide, the nave alone measuring 15m. (491/2 feet) long.

Fr. Christy O’Dwyer, Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly Pobail Ailbhe, Editions du Signe, 2008

Sacred Heart Church, Templemore 
Weekdays 9.30am (except Holy Days)
Saturday Vigil 7pm
Sunday 10.30am
*Holy Days – Vigil Mass at 7pm and Mass at 10.30am

St. Anne’s Church, Clonmore
Sunday 9am

St James’ Church, Killea
Sunday 12noon