The
Pyramid
- The pyramid near the church of Ireland
church in Kinnitty was built by one of
the Bernard family .He was an architect
and Engineer who did military service in
Egypt. He was probably influenced by the
huge pyramids he saw there, and when he
returned home he started to build a
replica of one of them on a much smaller
scale as a last resting place for the
Bernard family. It took four years to
build, starting 1830 and finishing in
1834. It is approximately thirty feet in
high , and is thought to be the only one
of its kind in Ireland. The last Bernard
to be entered there was in 1904.
- There are six coffins in the pyramid
four of them are:
- 1. Margaret Bernard Died October 1842
aged 24 years
- 2. Major Scroope Bernard Died September
12th 1857 aged 38 years
- 3. Colonel Thomas Bernard Died December
13th 1882 aged 66 years
- 4. Ellen Georgina Bernard Died January
28th 1907 aged 81 years
Kinnitty Castle
- The castle is believed to be by the Pain
brothers and dates from the 1830's. It
was destroyed in the "Troubles"
of the early 1920's and was rebuilt many
years later. There is a shaft of a High
Cross on the terrace with figure carvings
including a Crucifixion on one face, and
an Adam and Eve on the other. This could
be a relic of a monastery founded in
Kinnity in the 6th/7th century. One and a
half miles north west of Kinnity on the
north of the Camcor is a fragment of the
head of a High Cross which could be from
the monastery founded by St Barrind in
the 6th century. Beside it is a Norman
motte. Today the castle stands as a
beautiful restored hotel in the heart of
the Irish countryside.
One
of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites,
founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th century and
situated on the water meadows of the River
Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a 10th
cathedral, eight churches, two round towers,
three high crosses, large collection of early
Christian grave slabs and a Visitor Centre which
hosts a audio visual show as well as a number of
exhibitions. This Famous site is located less
than 19 miles from Kinnitty and is well worth the
trip.
Celtic Cross
- This famous Celtic cross is situated on
the grounds of kinnitty castle. The first
castle in kinnitty was destroyed in the
year 1209 and was later rebuilt by the
Norman's in the year 1213. During the
Norman period an Augustinian Abbey
established near the castle it was then
the cross was erected. Today the cross
and the old walls of the abbey can still
be seen.
The
Church of Ireland church in Kinnitty village
which lies beside the Bernard Vault.
