| Church Ruins
© The overgrown graveyard at Killanahan
There were two churches in Killanahan, called Cill Onchon
Mór and Cill Onchon Beag, Cill Onchon meaning the church of St
Onchu, a saint from the sixth or seventh century. At one time, Killanahan
had been a separate parish before being joined to Manister. However, no
trace of either church remains.
A list of churches was bestowed on the abbey in 1185, and
it mentioned churches in Kilcurley, Kildonnell and Killeenoughty. Westropp
relates an interesting story about the church at Killeenoughty. He says
that this church was called Cill Fhionshneachta, meaning the church of
the wine-red snow. According to the legend a saint was slain at the door
of the church when the ground was covered with snow. The blood of the
saint coloured the snow wine-red. Westropp says that this church was also
known as Cill Fhionnachta, the church of Saint Fionnachta, and as Teampull
na Sceach, the church of the thorn bushes. Locals remember this area as
'Cealltar', a graveyard.
Before the abbey was built, there was reputedly a church
in Ballycahane. This church together with its lands became part of the
abbey lands. No trace of this church remains.
Westropp claims he came across another church in 1876 in
Knockgromassell. He also records the ruins of a church in Knocknagranshy.
There was a mass house in Manister during the penal years,
in Caherduff. The house was located across from Gerry O'Connor's house.
Two bumps in the ground at this location are said to be the burial places
of two priests.
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