Kilmihil
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Kilmihil
Cill Mhichíl | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Clare |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Urban | 600 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | R134877 |
Kilmihil (Irish: Cill Mhichíl, meaning 'Church of St. Michael the Archangel') is a village located in west County Clare.
St. Michael and St. Senan
It is believed that St. Michael’s Church was founded by St. Senan around 530AD. He dedicated this church to St. Michael. For centuries it became a place of pilgrimage to St. Michael, especially in September as his feast day is on September 29. In 1937 the Curate of the parish Fr. Patrick O’Reilly, organised the improvement of the well and the surrounding area. The well is now enclosed and over this building is the Statue of St. Michael enclosed in glass.[1]
Tradition credits the founding of a church here to St. Senan in honour of Michael the Archangel. During the reign of Pope Gelasius I (AD 492-496) an apparition of the Archangel took place on the summit of Mt. Garganus in Apulia in Italy. This apparition and the founding of the church in Kilmihil both took place during St. Senan’s lifetime (488 – 554 AD). After visiting Rome about 530 AD, he returned to Ireland wishing to foster devotion to Michael. While travelling from Scattery Island to Doolough he stopped in Kilmihil where he founded the church.[2]
Kilmihil is one of the larger parishes in West Clare. It is well known for its Holy Shrine, which attracts many pilgrims due to its holy water.[3]
The village has three grocery stores, a pharmacy, five pubs, a post office, and several other shops. Other amenities are the credit union, library, garage, retirement village, church, and a community centre.
There is a primary school and a secondary school (St. Michaels Community College).
In popular culture
Kilmihil is mentioned in several books. O Come Ye Back to Ireland: Our First Year in County Clare, a memoir Niall Williams and Christine Breen, describes an Irish/American couple's move from New York back to the cottage of their forebears.[4] (and subsequent books When Summer's in the Meadow and The Luck of the Irish).
Sport
Kilmihil GAA club won the Clare Senior Football Championship in 1980, its sole victory in the championship's history.[5]
Kilmihil soccer club is named St. Pat's.
Olympian Thomas O'Donahue was born in Kilmihil.
Events
Kilmihil conducts an annual "Festival of Fun" every year over the August Bank Holiday weekend, which draws large crowds to the village. It includes a parade, a vintage rally, a raft race on Knockalough Lake and various other activities.[6]
