BROWSE
townland
Cill Mhichíl
genitive: Chill Mhichíl
(Irish)
Kilmichael
(English)

Glossary

English church

Explanatory note

  • English

    The personal name Micheál is rarely found in non-ecclesiastical place-names (see BALLYMICHAEL, par. Ardcanrisk), most examples occurring in compound with elements such as cill “church” or teampall “church”, e.g. Kilmihil/Cill Mhichíl (CE; LK) and Templemichael/Teampall Mhichíl (CK; LK; LD; TY; WD; WW) (see logainm.ie). It is therefore likely that the original Irish form of Kilmichael here is Cill MhichílSt. Michael’s church” rather than Coill MhichílMicheál’s wood”. This is also the most likely derivation of KILMICHAEL in Kilgorman (par.) and Kilnahue (par.), despite the lack of ecclesiastical remains in any of these three townlands as of 2016 (see archaeology.ie). (See Townlands of Co. Wexford ii pp.1144–5.)

    It has, however, recently been brought to the attention of the Placenames Branch by folklorist Michael Fortune that a local tradition of a graveyard exists in the area, which is very much at one with the presence of cill “church, churchyard” in this place-name.

Centrepoint

52.5672, -6.2066latitude, longitude
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Irish Grid (without letter)
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Archival records

scanned image

Historical references

1423
Kyllehmil (Odo Okyrruayn)
Iml. 7 1417-1431
CPL
1544
Kilmyghell (Charles M’Mortho)
Mon. Hib. Leathanach: 746
1550
Kylmygell (Walter Pipparde)
F Alt: 643
1567
Kilmichill (Ant. Peppard)
F Leathanach: 160, Alt: 1060
1576
Kilmichell (Ant. Peppard)
F Leathanach: 194, Alt: 2935
1618
Kilmichell (Will. Parsons)
CPR Leathanach: 411
1619
Kilmighell (Will. Parsons)
CPR Leathanach: 445
1654
Kilmihill
CS (LG) Imleabhar: IX, Leathanach: 42
1659 c
Kilmihill
Cen. Leathanach: 550
1660
Kilmihill (Walsh. Cooke)
BSD (LG)
1840
Cill Míchíl (St. Michael’s church)
OD:AL
1840
Kilmichael
Grothin:AL (LG)
1840
Kilmichael
McGrath:AL (LG)
1840
Kilmichael
Stafford:AL (LG)

Please note: Some of the documentation from the archives of the Placenames Branch is available here. It indicates the range of research contributions undertaken by the Branch on this placename over the years. It may not constitute a complete record, and evidence may not be sequenced on the basis of validity. It is on this basis that this material is made available to the public.

Archival and research material provided on this site may be used, subject to acknowledgement. Issues regarding republication or other permissions or copyright should be addressed to logainm@dcu.ie.

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