| Killeigh | |
| Native Name Lang: | ga |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Ireland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Ireland |
| Coordinates: | 53.214°N -7.45°W |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Irish Grid Reference |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Ireland |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Leinster |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Offaly |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Elevation M: | 99 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population: | 183 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
Killeigh (meaning "church of the field")[2] is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located around 8km (05miles) south of the county town of Tullamore, on the N80 national secondary road; the Slieve Bloom Mountains lie to the south. The village of Killeigh, which lies within the civil parish of Geashill,[3] had a population of 183 in 2022.[1]
An abbey, historically associated with St Sinchell, was reputedly founded at Killeigh in the 6th century.[4] A priory was established by Augustinian nuns in the 12th century, and a Franciscan friary founded in Killeigh in the late 13th century.[4] [5] The friary was dissolved in the 16th century.[4]
The current Church of Ireland church in Killeigh, which incorporates part of the remains of the older friary,[4] [6] was built in the 17th century. It was "substantially repaired" in the 1830s.[7] It lies within the Diocese of Meath and Kildare.[8]
The local Catholic church, which is dedicated to Saint Patrick,[9] is in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.[10] The current church was built in 1971,[9] replacing an older 19th-century building that was demolished in the 1970s.[11]
A holy well and rag tree, associated with St Sinchell,[4] is located in Killeigh townland and contains architectural fragments from the nearby monastic site.[12] [13]
In the 2022 census, approximately 86% indicated that they were Catholic, 1% were of other religions and 13% had no religion or no stated religion.[1]
Killeigh was the birthplace of the racing greyhound 'Mick the Miller', and a statue has been placed on the village green to commemorate this dog.[14]
The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Clodiagh Gaels, was founded in 2015 following an amalgamation between the clubs representing Killeigh and Killurin.[15] Both clubs had already united at juvenile and underage levels as Na Fianna. The combined club is named for the Clodiagh River.[16]