The Saint, the Castle and the Golf

It is not often that I go to a 5-Star Golf Resort like Kilkea Castle to find a 5th century Irish saint. 

However the name Kilkea shows the place was first occupied by St Kea (‘Cell of Kea’). The Castle part is a reminder that it was a stronghold of the Fitzgeralds who ‘ruled’ Ireland on behalf of the English Crown for over 350 years.

Like a number of ‘more Irish than the Irish’ Norman-Irish families the Fitzgeralds survived the ups-and-down of history by managing to serve two traditions, the British and the Irish.

They sided with the British Crown in major conflicts until their temporary head, young Silken Thomas, rushed into a rebellion against Henry Vlll in 1534 and lost nearly all they owned.

They eventually recovered and in the 17^th century British Civil War sided with the king, Charles l. The Irish were also part of the Confederation of Kilkenny and Kilkea Castle hosted the Papal Legate Archbishop Rincuccini when he was encouraging the Irish parties to continue their struggle.       

The widow of the 14^th Earl of Kildare (a Fitzgerald) leased Kilkea Castle to the Jesuits in 1634 and their base was there until 1646 when the tides of war changed.   

Today as you enter the castle grounds you are greeted by a statue of St Kea, carved from a tree trunk. He has not been completely forgotten.                                                                

The Fitzgeralds turned St Kea’s church there into their family burial place and their graves survive among the ruins, within chipping range of the golf course.

St Kea is more correctly known as Caoidh but it was easier to pronounce as Kea or Kay. He is also associated with Inishbeg in Wexford harbour and Donadea church (in my local Donadea Forest Park). Living around the time of St Patrick, he was one of the pioneers who moved around, setting up small outpost of Christianity across the country.  

Like many of the great Irish landlords the social power of the Fitzgeralds declined in the 19^th century and they had to sell their estates. Interesting, their two main centres, Maynooth and Kilkea, both retain their ‘nobility’ as 5-star golf resorts.  

The Old Cemetery at Kilkea is a jumble of walls and graves, hidden by trees.

Nearby the wooden statue of a rugged St Kea continues to greet guests. Arriving golfers may wondered how he managed to have gained entrance.