School: Kilkea, Mageney (roll number 9123)
- Location:
- Kilkea Lodge Farm, Co. Kildare
- Teacher: Cáit Ní Chába
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0781, Page 287
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- The ruins of Belan House stand halfway between Kilkea Castle and Moone Abbey. According to Dr. Joyce the name is derived from two Irish words - "Bioth" meaning " life " , or " existence " and lann " a house "; hence " Biothlann " denoting a house of reflection or hospitality.
Here in the fifth century St. Patrick founded a church and blessed a Well; the latter still exists, and a disused unenclosed churchyard is situated at the back of the stables. This corner of the county is rich in Patrician landmarks, as Narraghmore was founded by St. Patrick; so was Glassealy with its St. Patrick's Well and Footmarks; and Knockpatrick also boasts of a church site founded by the Saint, and close to it his Well, also a granite boulder in the burial-ground bearing the impression of his two feet and the end of his staff.According to Thomas Milton's " Views in Ireland, " published in 1821 Belan House was built in the year 1743 under the directions of Castell, the architect, and Bindon, a painter; but this statement is very misleading as, if the tradition is true that King William III was entertained here by Edward Stratford, the(continues on next page)
