CHURCH  OF  IRELAND

KILGOBBIN CHURCH,  CAMP

Sunday Service 10.00 am

Known History of St. Gobban

In the south west of Ireland, in the province of Munster, on the edge of the Atlantic ocean, lies the "Kingdom" of County Kerry (Irish: Ciarraí). The kingdom of the Ciarraige tribe whose founder was Ciar, son of the legendary Fergus mac Róich of the Ulster Cycle in Irish mythology. A place where crumbling fortresses on jagged headlands still guard the memories of faded kingdoms.

In the "Martyrology of Oengus the culdee", (9th century register of saints and their feast days), it is stated…"Of Gobban, i.e. of cell Lamraide in Hui Cathrenn in the west of ossory, i.e. a thousand monks it had, as experts say. angelic wall, i.e. angels founded the wall of his church for him. Lane, an old tribe which was once in the south of Ireland, and of them was Gobban."

The tribal name of Lane is an interpretation of the Irish O'Laoghin or O'Laeghain. Some authorities describe the land of Ui Ferba as extending northwards from Tralee along Ballyheigue bay to Cashen Bay. However prior to its breakup during the Cambro-Norman invasion of Ireland, Ui Ferba not only included the forementioned lands but also included territory to the west of Tralee in the Dingle/Corkaguiny peninsular. Scattered and embedded into this primitive landscape of stone age dolmens and Iron Age forts are the very foundation stones of early Irish medieval ecclesiastical sites

Many of these early Christian sites, have been lost to the vagaries of time, man and nature. However many still exist to some extent: one of which is the ancient ecclesiastic site of Rattoo, with its famous round tower.

The estate of the Abbey and churches of Rattoo arose within the ancient ecclesiastical see of Ardfert in the cantred of Altry bordering Ui Ferba, within the over kingdom of Ciarraige Luachra and was founded by - "the gentle bishop Lugdach". This ecclesastical site, which was reported to consist of seven churches was long known as "Rath Muighe tuaiscirt" - the fort of the northern plain. This bishop Lugdach, could be the father of Gobban find mac Lugdach and this ecclesiaastical enclosure might not only be St. Gobhan's birthplace, but also that of his real final resting abode.

It is generally regarded that St.Gobhan was buried, or his holy relics preserved at the celebrated monastery of St. Fintan of Clonenagh(Cluain Ednech), county Laois. However St. Gobhan had no apparent ecclesiastical ties to this historic establishment. An examination of the etymology of Cluain Eidhneach may be instructive. The meaning of the middle Irish word Cluain is invariably found to be a piece of fertile land surrounded by a bog or moor, or on one side by a bog, and the other by water. Also the word eidnech/eidhneach refers to an area of ivy clad trees. In summary an area of raised fertile land surrounded by bog/swamp.

A few miles to the north of Ratoo the river Feale, Brick and Gale converge: thus united they become the Cashen river which flows some six more miles before emptying into Cashen bay on the River Shannon estuary.

The low ground south of the Cashen river was known as cashen bog. The church of Rattoo lies within this bog, though now much reduced: however one and a half thousand years ago this topography would have been more apparent.

The church of Rattoo adjoins the ancient townland of Clooneagh:Cluain Each. - while seven miles west of Tralee, on the Corkaguiny peninsular is the old church of Kilgobbin.

Historical background

The financing of the present building was by a loan of 784 pounds sterling from the Church of Ireland's Board of First Fruits, which received financial support from Lord Ventry.  The Kilgobbin Glebe House (Rectory) was erected in 1819 and remained part of the church property until it was sold some 50 years ago to the present owners.  At that time a new Glebe House, or as it is now known, The New Rectory, was built nearby. 

The Board of First Fruits was established in 1711 by Queen Anne of Great Britain, and its purpose was to build and improve churches and glebe houses in Ireland.  The money to do this was funded by taxes collected on clerical incomes which, in turn, were funded by tithes.  In 1833, this Board was replaced by the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

The Kilgobbin Succession List dates 1615, when Thomas Webb was Vicar of Kilgobbin and Killarney.  In 1641 the Rector was Devereux Spratt.  He was living in Tralee during the siege and the surrender of the castle in that year.  He was, at one point, captured by Algerian pirates until his ransom was paid.  He later served in parishes in England and Ireland.

Much financial support came from the Denny family of Tralee and other estates on either side of Tralee Bay from 1587 to 1889.  Anthony Denny was Rector of Kilgobbin and Archdeacon of Ardfert from 1861 to 1885.

Kilboggin Church is part of the Tralee and Dingle Group of Parishes.  Standing between Tralee Bay and the Slieve Mish mountains, this small, comfortable church is situated below Camp village on the north shore of the Dingle Peninsula about 15km from Tralee.  The present church is the latest of several to stand in the ancient but well-kept graveyard, which dates back to the original church of St. Gobban, much of whose origins are lost in the mists of time.

The church is rectangular in shape with a crenelated tower at the west end and is of the typical nave and chancel design.  There is a  magnificent stained glass east window with three lights depicting scriptural scenes. The window was dedicated in 1980 by the Rt. Reverend Edwin Owen, Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert, and was procured from a deconsecrated church in Kilshannig, Mallow, Co. Cork in 1980, and was the work of a French artist.

The cracked stone Baptismal Font which sits on a window sill is undated, but was excavated from the foundations of the previous church during the building of the present one in 1824.

The white communion rails add a refreshing touch to the interior, and the intricately carved white reredos bears the command in gold lettering 'Do this in remembrance of me'.  The weekly Sunday service is very popular with tourists, and the tourist ministry offered in Kilgobbin is greatly appreciated.

(Adapted from Wikipedia)