Kinnitty () is a village in
County Offaly
County Offaly (; ga, Contae UÃbh FhailÃ) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of UÃ Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...
, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of
Birr on the
R440 and
R421 regional roads.
Name and location
The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, ''Ceann'' being Irish for head and ''Eitigh'' being the name of the princess. The village is situated at the foot of the
Slieve Bloom Mountains in the ancient kingdom of
Éile.
Parish
Kinnity is also the name of the
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
parish. The present chapel was built around 1815.
Amenities
Kinnitty is served by a primary school, creche, two churches, post office, community centre, children's playground, two pubs, café, some shops, a number of bed and breakfasts and a hotel (the modern day use of
Kinnitty Castle). The trail head for the Slieve Bloom Mountain biking trails is located in the village of Kinnitty, as is one of the trailheads for the long distance Slieve Bloom Way walking route. Kinnitty Forest or Glenregan Forest is operated by
Coillte
Coillte (; meaning "forests"/"woods") is a state-owned commercial forestry business in Ireland based in Newtownmountkennedy. Coillte manage approximately 7% of the country’s land, and operates three businesses - their core forestry business, a ...
and is located near the village.
Buildings
There is an unusual pyramid-shaped tomb in the grounds of the St Finian's Church.
It was built by the Bernard family who resided in
Kinnitty Castle, on the site of St. Finnian's monastery. The 9th century
Kinnitty High Cross is located at the front of Kinnitty Castle (now a hotel).
Notable people
*Saint
Finan Cam
Finan Cam (or Fionan, Finian), Abbot of Kinnity was an early Irish saint associated with County Kerry, Ireland, who lived in the 6th century AD, and possibly the 7th century.
To distinguish him from other saints of the same name the appellation of ...
founded a monastery here around the end of the 6th century
*
Rex Ingram, the Hollywood director, and his brother, Colonel
Francis Clere Hitchcock
Colonel Francis Clere Hitchcock MC (1896 - 1962) wrote ''Stand To—A Diary of the Trenches 1915-1918'' about the activities of the second Leinster Regiment of the British Army in World War I.
Biography
He was born in Dublin and spent most ...
MC, spent most of their early life here where their father was the parish rector. (The "
Old Rectory" now a private home, can be seen from the Roscrea Road opposite the Church of Ireland.)
See also
*
List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe , state=collapsed
Towns and villages in County Offaly
Civil parishes of County Offaly