centre of learning for about 350 years after St. Ita's death and was finally destroyed about 850 A.D. by the savages of the Danes. Killeedy Abbey was the first place attacked by the Danes after landing in Kerry, it was the first rich Monastery they attacked, but thanks to the powerful Gaelic Chieftains they were defeated in a great battle fought on the site of Killeedy Castle and driven back to Kerry. It is said that the raid on Killeedy Abbey was the first attack of the Danes in Munster. Killeedy Abbey is still held in great veneration by the people of the Parish and surrounding district, and every year on January 15th huge crowds visit the Abbey and pay rounds around the site of the Monastery which is now a graveyard. The only portions of the Abbey now standing are two walls which are now overgrown with ivy. The people of Killeedy placed a statue over the supposed site of her grave A.D. 1910. On one occasion she was transported to Clonmacnoise to receive Holy Communion from the Abbot there.

On the other side of the road from Killeedy abbey stands Killeedy Castle. Killeedy Castle in the Barony of Glenquin was built by the Knights Templars. It is situated on a mound beside a stream. It must have been built about 1200 A D.At that time and from the time of St. Ita there lived in Killeedy a strong tribe of men who were engaged in many fights with the Danes. When the Danes landed in Kerry they came and attacked Killeedy abbey which is said to have been their first attack in Munster.At length this strong tribe around Killeedy grew weaker and weaker until they were again engaged in another attack with the Danes. When they were defeated. The Castle belonged to William De Barrys father Phillip who obtained it virtue of a grant from his Uncle Robert Fitzstephen. The De-Lacy family lived in the Castle. Peter De-Lacey's son emigrated to Russia and became famous in the

fostering care of Ita were educated some of our greatest Saints and Scholars. To Killeedy came St. Brendan, Pulcherius and the great Scholar Cummian Fhada, each was taught there for the noble work before him. Killeedy was the home of Sanctity, Miracles, and learning. To it crowded the cripples, the blind, and the dumb, indeed all invalids found in Killeedy a refuge, food and comfort were there afforded them. Ita was endowed with the Divine gifts of Miracles and Prophecy and several came to her for advice in their labours. She loved Killeedy and ever prayed for its people as the kindly way they received her at first touched her tender heart.The only animal she possessed while in Killeedy was a little donkey of which she was very fond. It happened one time that this animal strayed, and went as far as Tournafulla a village some miles to the West of Killeedy. When the people of this district saw the strange rambling donkey they sent their dogs chasing the animal, and drove him across the Feale which flows through this

On the other side of the road from Killeedy Abbey stands Killeedy Castle. It was built by the Knights Templars. It is situated on a mound about twenty feet high near the bend of a stream. A canon ball was fired at it from Glenquin Castle which made it quite useless.From the time of St Ita or a little before there lived in the neigbourhood a powerful tribe who were engaged in many struggles with the Danes.When the Danes landed in Kerry they marched inland towards Killeedy Castle. It is supposed that Killeedy was the first they attacked in Munster. They were expecting to find precious jewels and treasures there bu they were defeated by the Gaelic Chieftains of Killeedy. The castle is supposed to have

Among the many ruins of this district are two local castles called Killeedy Castle, and Glenquin Castle. Killeedy Castle is situated at the opposite side of Killeedy Abbey. This castle is built in a mound, near the bend of a stream, and was built about 1200 A.D. Up to this time, and from the time of St. Ita, there lived nearby a powerful tribe who were engaged in many battles with the Danes.
After the Danes landing in Kerry they came and attacked Killeedy Abbey and it is said this was their first attack in Munster, but, they were defeated by these Gaelic Chieftains. The most historical facts about the Castle are about 1300 A.D. At this time Thomas - an - Appagh owned the castle and it was granted to him by King John.
It was in this castle of Killeedy were reared Pater De Lacy, and his son who afterwards became famous in the history of Russia after the Flight of "The Wild Geese".
About three miles from Killeedy Castle stands Glenquin Castle. It is built on the slopes of Sliabh - Luacre and was built by a

There used two saints come from Killeedy to the Barnabuide milking their cows. St Ita was one of them. They had one ass and someone set the dog after the ass and a thorn stuck in the asses foot and the print of the asses foot is in a stone in Barnabuide. When the two saints went to Killeedy one of the saints picked the thorn out of the asses foot and stuck it below at Killeedy and turned its head down and every thorn that grew on that thorn ever since its head was turned down.

Under the care of Ita were reared some of our greatest Saints, and Scholars. To Killeedy came the great St's Brendan, Pulcherius, the great scholar. Each was taught there the noble work. Killeedy was the home of sanctity.

a bull broke his back also. In former times people emigrated to America from this district. The land is good and can produce first class crops. There is no wood or trees growing there. There is a river running ghrough it that bounds three parishes Castlemahon, Monagea and Killeedy. The river begins in the parish of Killeedy and flows into the river Deel about two miles east of Castlemahon.

about 472 a.d.
Killeedy was the home of sanctity. To it crowded the crippled, the blind and the dumb. It was endowed with the Divine gift of miracles, prophesy and several came to her for advice in their labours. She loved Killeedy and ever prayed for its people as the way they received her at first touched her tender heart.
She only possessed while in Killeedy a little black ass which she was very fond. It happened one time that this animal strayed as far as Tournafulla a village a few miles to the west of Killeedy. When the people of that district saw the strange rambling animal they set their chasing it and drove him across the Feale which flows through the neighbourhood. The Saint missing the donkey set out in search of him and when she heard that her donkey had been ill treated she became quite angry and it is said she cursed the place.
The track of the

Killeedy Castle is situated in the Barney of Glenquin. The Castle is near the abbey. It is a very old Castle and it is partly destroyed. There is a Castle named Glenquin about two miles away from Killeedy. The Castle in Killeedy was shelled with a canon from Glenquin and is now standing on a high mound of earth.The de Laceys lived in it one time. It is one of the most dangerous Castles in Ireland at present time. There was a fort around it and also water flowing around it years ago. It was a beautiful one time, the arched doors and windows being very well done by expert mossons.Its height is about ninety feet and can be seen a good distance off. Many people come to see it as it appears very ancient and historic to strangers.
The old Killeedy abbey near by is very old an is as historic as the Castle. It is the ruins of Saint Ita's Convent

family as Killeedy Lacys, and when war broke out between both families about 1740 Glenquin triumphed and Killeedy was abandoned and about fifty years later Glenquin fell into disuse and has not been occupied since.

The local patrion saint here was Saint Ita. There is the ruin of an old monastery in Killeedy. There is also a graveyard there, and a blessed well. This well is called Saint Ita's well. Many people pay rounds at this well on the fifteenth day of January. This day is also a holiday in Killeedy. High mass is also said in Raheenah on that day. Many people with different diseases who went to this well were cursed.
There are many stories told about Saint Ita. About half a mile from my school there is a place called ''Búaile' which means a milking field. Saint Ita had cows there, and when she used to milk the cows, she used send the milk to the monastery in Killeedy. She had a trained donkey to carry the milk. One day when the donkey was going with the milk the blackguards of Tournafulla set dogs at the ass.

of the cow's milk and blessed it, she rubbed it to two teats and it is said they fell from the cows udder.One day she was riding an ass carrying milk from Tournafulla and some boys put dogs after her ass and he (the ass) jumped on a rock and the sign of his hooves are still to be seen there.Another day the ass was travelling alone between Tournafulla and Killeedy and he was carrying milk in two gallons and the boys in Tournafulla sat the dogs at him and he ran and a thorn stuck in the asses hoof, when he arrived in Killeedy she pulled the thorn from his leg and she stuck the thorn in the ground turning the point downwards and that thorn grew and it is to be seen to-day an old whitethorn with its thorns turned downwards in the churchyard in Killeedy.

Across the road from Killeedy Abbey stands Killeedy Castle. This castle in the barony of Glenquin is attributed to King John. It is built on a mound near the bend of a stream. It must have been built around 1200 AD. Up to this time and from the time of St. Ita there lived in the neighbourhood a powerful tribe who were engaged in many great struggles with the Danes. These Gaelic chieftains defeated the Danes. When they came to attack

It is said that near St Itas well in Killeedy there is a rock and it is where the ass fell the print of his hoofs are in the rock yet.

the Killeedy De Lacy.When war broke out beween the two families about 1640 Glenquin truimphed and Killeedy was given up and some years later Glenquin fell into disuse and has not been used since.

Graveyards. 20-12-1938
Killeedy graveyard stands opposite Killeedy castle at the other side of the road. The four walls within which stood the most popular Sts and Scholars are now roofless and solitary, with ivy clinching to their tops and is a place of silence. No sound to be heard from any direction.
Surrounding the ancient building are many graves both old and new. The little place is enclosed by a circular wall and is sloping eastwards in side the wall is a gravelled path with grass on either side.
It is in this path the people walk when doing rounds. Every three or four feet of this yard is owned by different families for their burial place.
Amongst the great Saints who grew up under St. Itas care were Saint Brendan, Saint Pulcherius and Saint Cummian Fada. Saint Ita was endowed with remarkable gifts of prophecy, and wrought many miracles. The people of Killeedy in their devotion to the Saint erected AD 1910 a beautiful statue over her grave.

St. Ita was the patron saint of Killeedy because it was there she built her convent and it was there also that she lived.In her early days she carried on farming business. It happened that she had a small dairy and farm in Mountcollins.The only means of travel she had to Mountcollins was to ride on an ass. This evening as she was coming home from Mountcollins to Killeedy after her day's work it happened that she called into a house in Tournafulla to see a sick person. She left her donkey outside in a nearby field. After a while the

Killeedy Abbey landing in Kerry, it is said that this was their first attack in Munster.
As time went on this strong tribe who were resisting around Killeedy grew weaker and about the middle of the tenth century the Danes in another attack defeated them and destroyed the great monastery taking with them large quantities of books.
After the coming of the Normans or in the reign of King John or a little before, the castle must have been built by the Knights Templars. The mount is certainly artificial and rises twenty feet high. It rises out of a level plain and on three sides can be seen for miles.

St Ita is the patroness of Killeedy, Co. Limk, She was born in Co. Waterford. When she grew up her father wanted to get her married. But Ita wanted to enter the convent. She left her father's house and travelled to Killeedy in Co. Limk. There she established her convent. One day St Ita was passing through the village of Tournafulla, she went into a house and left her ass standing outside. While she was inside the blackguards of the village illused her ass. Tradition says that St Ita cursed the village of Tournafulla. She said it would never be without a widow or a widower, a blackguard and a smoky chimney.