Kilmore, County Wexford
Encyclopedia
Kilmore or Killmore is a village
and townland
in south County Wexford
, Ireland
, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Wexford
town. Kilmore has a number of claims to distinction, including the tradition of carol
singing in the village church
at Christmas
time, which has been taking place for over 200 years. The history of the Kilmore carols can be traced from the mid 18th century to the present day. They have been sung without a break since they were introduced to the parish by Very Rev. Peter Devereux, who was Parish Priest circa 1751
. Some of them were written by Very Rev. William Devereux, P.P., Piercestown, a native of Tacumshane
, where he is buried. The remainder were written by Bishop Luke Waddinge of Ferns
.
In all, there are thirteen carols, eight of which are usually sung during the Christmas period, the first at first Mass
on Christmas Day and the last one on Sunday nearest Twelfth Day. The singers consist of six local men and have always included a member of the Devereux
family, a tradition that is being continued to the present day. The singers divide into two groups of three and each group sings alternate stanzas.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in south County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
town. Kilmore has a number of claims to distinction, including the tradition of carol
Carol (music)
A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with church worship, and often with a dance-like or popular character....
singing in the village church
St. Mary's Church, Kilmore, County Wexford
St. Mary's Church of Ireland Church is the parish church of Kilmore, County Wexford in the southeast of Ireland. The church was built to designs of William Day between 1798-1802 with a tower added in 1889, annexe in 1898, and later vestry in 1935....
at Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
time, which has been taking place for over 200 years. The history of the Kilmore carols can be traced from the mid 18th century to the present day. They have been sung without a break since they were introduced to the parish by Very Rev. Peter Devereux, who was Parish Priest circa 1751
1751 in Ireland
-Births:*September - William Hare, 1st Earl of Listowel, peer and MP .*19 October - Charles Edward Jennings de Kilmaine, soldier in France .*30 October - Richard Brinsley Sheridan, playwright and statesman .-Full date unknown:...
. Some of them were written by Very Rev. William Devereux, P.P., Piercestown, a native of Tacumshane
Tacumshane
Tacumshane is a small village in the southeast of County Wexford, Ireland. It is located 15 km south of Wexford town.-Name:The official name of the village is Tacumshane. In Irish it is called Teach as Sheáin, which means "Seán's House" or literally "House of Seán". The name of the village is...
, where he is buried. The remainder were written by Bishop Luke Waddinge of Ferns
Ferns, County Wexford
Ferns is a small historic town in north County Wexford, Ireland with a population of about 900. It is 16 km from Enniscorthy, where the Gorey to Enniscorthy N11 road joins the R745 regional road...
.
In all, there are thirteen carols, eight of which are usually sung during the Christmas period, the first at first Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
on Christmas Day and the last one on Sunday nearest Twelfth Day. The singers consist of six local men and have always included a member of the Devereux
Devereux
Devereux is a surname found throughout the French-speaking world and in many other countries. It is of Norman origin, meaning d'Évreux or "from Évreux", a town in Normandy, France...
family, a tradition that is being continued to the present day. The singers divide into two groups of three and each group sings alternate stanzas.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- www.kilmoregenealogy.com Detailed genealogical information regarding Kilmore.
- Kilmore carols