Welcome to Kilbixy Church

Discover the rich history of Kilbixy Church, founded by Naomi Beseech in the 6th century, and explore the unique ruins of Ireland's leper hospital beside it.

Naomi Beseech founded this church in the 6th century and she gave her name to the thriving town of Kilbixy that was once in existence in this area. Lord Sunderlin built this present church in 1798. In the 1960’s the ceiling of the original church collapsed and it was considered beyond the means of the parishioners to restore the elaborate ceiling. The result is that the building has been divided into two parts, one part forms the present open courtyard and the remainder was re-roofed to form the church. Beside the church are the unique ruins of one of the few leper hospitals in Ireland. The ruined walls of this hospital are four feet thick with two large window openings – a structure similar to the keep of a Norman Castle.

Beside the church, is a Mausoleum built at the same time, with a vault underneath the floor where four of the Malone family are buried, including Lord Sunderlin and his brother, the celebrated literary expert “Shakespeare” Malone.

Kilbixy Church, Mausoleum and churchyard are well worth a visit and are very well maintained (permission is required from the local church official). It continues to be a place of worship for the Church of Ireland and both the church grounds and graveyard are in pristine condition.