Ullard Church

Ullard Church is a stone building with a Romanesque doorway featuring three decorative layers with carved heads and geometric patterns. A 4-meter-high cross stands nearby, and two bullaun stones rest beneath the trees.

The site began as a monastery in the 7th century and was later developed with a stone church in the 12th century. The high cross was constructed in the 9th century and has remained part of the location since then.

The high cross displays religious scenes like the Crucifixion, Adam and Eve, David with his harp, and the Binding of Isaac. These carvings served as visual teaching tools for visitors who could not read.

The church sits about 700 meters (2,300 feet) west of the River Barrow in County Kilkenny and is located in a quiet rural area. A holy well dedicated to St Fiacre can be found in the northern field near the site.

Around 1900, a Gaelic handball alley was built using one of the church walls as a playing surface. This adaptation shows how medieval sites in the region were repurposed for everyday recreational activities.

Location: County Kilkenny

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

GPS coordinates: 52.58016,-6.93293

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:25