Village in Connacht, Ireland
Kilkelly (Irish: Cill Cheallaigh, meaning 'church of Cellach'[2]) is a small village in Kilmovee civil parish, County Mayo, Ireland. It is just south of Ireland West Airport Knock on the N17, a national primary road running between Galway and Sligo.
History
Built heritage
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a ringfort site in Liscosker townland.[3] An early ecclesiastical site to the south of Kilkelly village, which includes the remains of a church and graveyard, is historically associated with Saint Celsus (or Cellach).[3] The modern Roman Catholic church of Saint Celsus, to the north of the village, is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry.[4] Urlaur Abbey, a monastic site dating to the mid-15th century, is also nearby.[5]
Emigration
Kilkelly is the subject of a song. "Kilkelly, Ireland", by the American songwriter Peter Jones. In the 1980s, Jones discovered a collection of 19th century letters sent to his Irish emigrant ancestor in America from that ancestor's father in Kilkelly.[5][6] Jones wrote a ballad based on the contents of those letters, conveying the experience of his own family as well as others separated by emigration.[5][6][7]
Amenities
Kilkelly has a number of shops, a pharmacy,[8] credit union branch,[9] and a post office.[10] As of 2010, the local national (primary) school had over 50 pupils enrolled.[11]
