Parish of Kilnaboy (f)

The walls of an old Church in perfect preservation, stand in the Townland of Comhad, about half a mile to the east of Kilnaboy, measuring fifty four feet three inches by twenty two feet. There is a handsome belfry on the west gable, a pointed door and window in south side, a pointed double headed window in east gable, mullion taken away. There is a tombstone under this window, inside, over the two daughters of Conor O’Brien and Mary Mahon of Leim an Eich, who died in the year 1651. Another tomb near it inscribed to Laurence White, A.D. 1711. There is a stone with armorial bearings fixed in the wall of a dilapidated Sacristy, at the east end of the Church inscribed to Thomas Mac Gorman of Caher More, who died 1735. There is another smaller stone within the Sacristy, thrown about, having the same inscription and arms, but without a date and which appears to have been removed to make room for the other. The inscriptions are in Latin. This Church is said to have been built by Katherine Keightly, wife of O’Brien of Inchiquin, and grandmother to the present Sir Lucius O’Brien of Dromoland, as a Chapel of Ease and to vex the rector of Kilnaboy with whom she had some quarrel.

The Townland of Comhad, pronounced Coo-ud, was formerly part of Kilnaboy Townland and had a pillar stone standing in it, which was exactly the height of Teige O’Quin (O’Brien) of Inchiquin, from which circumstance both Teige and this Townland took name, the former being called Taidhg a Chomhfhaid, i.e., Teige of the Equal Length (with the stone) and the stone itself got the name of Comhad or Equal Length, which subsequently was transferred to the Townland. This place was formerly a very celebrated race course. The pillar stone is now prostrate and fixed in a hedge near its ancient situation, but still retaining the name of Comhfhad. The story of this stone, or rather of its name, resembles the story of the origin of Aileach, as preserved in the Book of Leacain and others, where it is said that the Dagda condemned Corginn to find a Cloch Comhfhad or Stone of Equal Length with his (the Dagda’s) son whom he (Corginn) had killed in a fit of jealousy, for the purpose of placing it on the grave of the youth.