Kilmore, County Armagh
| Kilmore Irish: Cill Mhór | |
| County Armagh | |
|---|---|
 Kilmore Parish Church | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | H9451 |
| Location: | 54°23’53"N, 6°32’49"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
Kilmore or Killmore is a small village, townland and parish in County Armagh. It lies 2½ miles north of Richhill. It had a population of 190 people (74 households) in the 2011 Census.[1] (2001 Census: 111 people)
The site where Kilmore Parish Church now stands arguably predates the much venerated Early Christian cathedral sites of both Armagh and Londonderry, as the earliest mention of Christian worship here comes from AD 422. The Square Tower, built in 1613, has walls of great thickness, and are said to enclose the well-preserved round tower of the Monastery of Cill Mhór. Little is known of the monastery, but it is reported to have been founded by Saint Mochta in the 5th century. The monastic site is also associated with the order of Culdees and in history had strong links with the Cathedral of Armagh.
Finds from the area include a 12th-century silver finger ring, a bone comb, fragments of a lignite bracelet, skeletal remains from fields surrounding the church and an early 10th-century copper alloy and crutch-headed pin now in the British Museum.
People
- Francis Johnston, one of Ireland's most celebrated architects, was a native of Kilmore, County Armagh, who in his later years became known as 'Ireland's Wren'. He designed the principal buildings of the Armagh Observatory which began construction in 1789.
- Thomas Preston a scientist from the 19th century who published works on heat & light. He also discovered the Zeeman Effect.
Sport
The local GAA club is Ballyhegan Davitts GAC, one of the oldest clubs in County Armagh.
References
- ↑ "Kilmore". NI Statistics and Research Agency. http://www.nisra.gov.uk/census/2011/results/settlements.html. Retrieved 22 April 2015.