Kilbreedy Church and Well.Dear St. Brigid and her band of holy nuns pitched their camp in Kilbreedy about three Irish miles from Adare. She caused a beautiful well to spring up and flow out of a limestone rock. Many people got their health restored at that holy well.She also founded a little church in Kilbreedy about a quarter of a mile from the well. The church was taken away about 80 years ago by the Protestants. An old graveyard called the

During the time of the Whiteboys a group of them were riding on by Kilbreedy which is situated a bit east of Kilmallock. At a place in the road near Kilbreedy there was a sally tree growing near a stile, and here they met Father Mulqueen of Bulgaden. It was very dark but he recognized them and advised them to give over their life of plunder and reprisals. One of the group suddenly drew his gun and fired point blank at the priest killing him instantly. At once the sally tree split with a great crack from top to bottom, and away went the priest's horse leaving the dead priest behind him. The priests murderer fired at the run-a-way horse but missed him. A second Whiteboy then levelled his gun at the murderer but before he could fire the murderer jerked the gun upwards - the bullet passing off harmlessly. This was the end of this band of Whiteboys. The priest's horse

on the little hills of Kilbreedy.He told all his neighbours about the coming event, and how the Limerick fairies had him asked to fight with them in their battles, and to fire a shot at the Clare fairies, as soon as they would come over from Clare across the Shannon.On the day the battle was to take place, he waited on Kilbreedy hill with the Limerick fairies. As soon as the Clare fairies came, a fierce battle was fought. Sheahan fired a shot and the Limerick fairies were victorious.Thomas Fennell, Kilbreedy, Kilcornan,
Given by, Cornelious Normoyle, Rour Mor, Adare, (Aged 60)

Years gone by one of the five kings of Ireland lived in Kilbreedy castle. He had an army there. He had lots of gold there to pay his soldiers. The king of Connaught brought over his army and attacked the castle. The king of Connaught killed the other king in battle. The battle finished up in Beckfield at The Bonepit. Thing of Connaught came back to the Castle of Kilbreedy and got the gold there. He buried it in the bog nearby. After some years he went to look for it and could not get it. A travelling man got it.

The ruins of Saint Brigid's Church are in the townland of Kilbreedy. The Church was rectangular 22' x 20'. The walls are now only about 4 feet high. They are three feet in thickness. The graveyard adjoining is now seldom used for internments.St Brigid's holy well is situated near the Church. Formerly patterns were held here.Kilbreedy castle is also situated in the townland of Kilbreedy. It is 56 feet long, 34 feet wide and now 32 feet high. It is locally believed that this castle belongs to pre-Norman days, being the family home of the O'Phelans, Chiefs of the district.A terrible battle is believed to have been fought between the O'Phelans and the Fitzpatricks of Upper Ossory near the site of the Castle. After the battle the O'Phelans managed to keep possession of the castle but the Fitzpatricks took possession of much of the O'Phelan territory.

were sending for help but no use. It cracked and flamed and the place was so terrible that the people of the country side through the whole of Kilbreedy was in a blaze. It lasted the whole night and people were coming at every hour. This caused great fuss. They had to stand there in a plight handless till it was all over. So that is the danger of a lighted cigarette forgotten to be quenched.

Mr. Noonan was a famous runner. He raced the mail-car from Stonehall to Limerick. Mr O'Neill of Stonehall was once the world's champion runner. He was spoken of in song and story and yet the lines are quoted "From Kilbreedy (Stonehall) came the great O'Neill."

St. Brigid's Well. Kilbreedy, Kilcornan.There is a holy well situated about two miles to the north of Shountrade school in the townland of Kilbreedy, in the parish of Stonehall.Many years ago there was a small church there. It was dedicated to
St. Brigid. The well is also dedicated to St. Brigid. The well is situated in the lands of Mr. Samuel Miller.St. Brigid's feast day is the 1st February. On that day all the people pay rounds. they take with them nine stones and after each round they drop a stone. When the

Ballinvana (Baile-na-mánach) which is townland in this parish at one time was the site of a monastery and Kilbreedy not far away boasted a Convent. One day a few years ago a Mr Carroll was coming down the road by Ballinvana bridge and on looking back saw two nuns behind him. He was greatly surprised and looked back again and still saw them, but the third time when he looked back they had disappeared.

One day when my father and Mick Connors were coming home from the town of Kilmallock they had to pass a grave yard called Kilbreedy. Two men came out of the grave yard and took them in. They asked my father to sing a song, and he sang the Bard of Armagh, then

John Flanagan was born in Kilfinane and at age of six he went to live in Kibreedy. He was the world champion weight thrower. He emigrated to America and here threw a hammer fifty six pounds weight. After a few years he got married to a girl from Clare and finally he came home to Kilbreedy again where he still resides. He brought his mighty hammer with him and was able to throw it 34 feet away.

Old GraveyardsThere are four graveyards in my parish. One is situated in Kilmallock, another in Ballingaddy, Kilmallock, another in Tankardstown, Kilmallock, and another in Kilbreedy West, Kilmallock. All these graveyards are in use except Kilbreedy West's one.In Kilmallock graveyard stands the old Protestant Church. Before the year 1594 this church was a Catholic Church but when Sir. John Perrott suceeded Sidney and came to Kilmallock, it was handed over to him, and, ever afterwards it was called the Protestant Church. About two years ago this church was burned.Also in this church stands the tomb of the Knight of the Golden Spur. The slab covering the tomb

Old GraveyardsThere are four churchyards in the parish namely, Kilmallock, Kilbreedy West, Ballingaddy, and Tankardstown. Kilbreedy West is not in use.The churchyards are rectangular in shape. There are ruined churches in the four churchyards. All the churchyards are level.There are old tombs, monuments, and crosses in all the churchuards. People are buried in the ruins in the churchyards.Trees are growing in all the churchyards. Local families still use distant graveyards.In Kilmallock graveyard is the

leave the house straight. The poor girl could not help him but the grief of the mother was so terrible that she had to go. My father told me of another sad story of a burning. It happened many years ago. The name is Mrs Brian Kilbreedy Kilmallock. It happened that a lighted cigarette was left on the dressing table the curtain got into a blaze. It had gone a long way when they was it, but then they were too late it had caught to much of a hold. They

Local Heroes.The only famous person in the parish of Stone hall who at one time was the best runner of the world is Michael O'Neill of Kilbreedy. He is still a very active man, he follows the hounds. These are some of the races he won.At Edinburgh in early July 1879, Michael O'Neill, Kilbreedy won the four miles flat event in the Ireland v Scotland international contest.At the trades sports held in Dublin on July 24th, 1898, Michael O'Neill won the mile flat event fromOn August 14th, 1898 Michael O'Neill won the all Ireland athletic championship meeting at Cork. He won the five mile flat in 28 mins 19 4/5 seconds.On October 2nd, '98 he joined the professional ranks as a runner. He defeated Mullen in a contest of two miles flat at Limerick.On November 12th, 1899 Michael O'Neill beat Lin Hurst by forty yards in a five mile race for £50. It took him 26 Mins. 45 seconds to run the race.On November 18th, 1900 at Limerick Markets field, at a three mile race, Michael O'Neill beat Watkins (England) by six yards in 15 mins 19 seconds.

On a farm presently owned by Patrick Nash, Kilbreedy, there are two large forts each consisting of a larg circular ring of earth with a row of thorn trees on top. It is situated about two miles to the north of Shountrade, N. School. About twenty five years ago, the men were at dinner in the farm house. The maid went to the kitchen door to empty out some water, a wind blew suddenly and swept the girl away. When she did not return the five work-men spent three days looking for her, on the fourth day she returned. She told them that one of the workmen had almost walked on her, while she lay in the fort invisible with the rest of the fairies. She told the woman of the house that she had found certain articles lying in the bottom of her trunk.

In Kilbreedy there is a castle called Fanningstown castle. It is a very high castle. There are about ten flights of stairs and about 94 steps altogether. It is situated in a big field near a house belonging to the Moloneys. There are two big doors leading to the castle. As you go up the stairs you will see a fireplace. There is no roof on this castle. My mother said that her grandfather told her that during the rising of 1916 lots of men and women hid in it. If you stood on top of the walls you could see everyplace around you even Kilfinane and Cush. It is said that if you went up stairs in that castle the next day your name would be written with chalk on the door of the tomb.This castle is said to be haunted because lots of men were killed there.

In Kilbreedy there is the ruins of St. Brigid's church and beside the church there is a moat near the moat there is a churchyard. The moat is in ruins now. Not far from it there is a castle Fannstown which is also in ruins. A farmer owned this moat beside Fannstown Castle it said he was never able to make butter properly. One day a poor old woman came knocking to his door looking for alms. He told her he had nothing to give her because he could never make butter successfully she told him not to throw the dirty water into his neighbour's land. After that he never did that dirty trick and he made good butter.

Michal Connary was the champion of the athletes in Kilfinane. He jumped from one side of the road to the other near the protestant church. John Handly was also a famous hurler. He was best known by the name of Seán Óg. He was also a native of Kilfinane. John Flynn of Kilbreedy in Martinstown parish was a heavy weight thrower. He went to America and won several prizes in other parts of the world. He came back again and won the all-Ireland champion ship. People used to walk to fairs and work. There was a woman who was over 112 years who used to walk over twelve miles to her work every day and the longest she ever walked in her life was to Maynooth.

Holy Wells.How many Holy wells are in this Parish - One.
Tell where they are (townland, name of field if any) - Kilbreedy.
Do people still visit them on certain days - Yes.
When - On the 1st February.
Are "rounds" performed there and prayers said - Yes.
Give an account of these.Are there any stories told about this well. - No.
Origin - We don't know the origin.
What Saints are mentioned in connection with them. - St. Brigid.
Have people been cured at the well. - Yes.
Give an account. - Ned Shehan of Kilbreedy was cured of lumps on his head at St. Brigid's well. He is a blacksmith.
Is the well specially recommended for the cure of any disease. - Yes. For the cure of sore eyes.
Do people and invalids drink the water or bathe in it, or rub it to the affected parts. - They rub it to the affected parts and they drink it.