Introduction on St. Bridget Church, Kilbride

The Old Church of Kilbride is located c.3 miles south west of Tullamore in the townland of Kilbride in the Barony of Ballycowan.
A narrow, secondary roadway separates the Church and enclosing Graveyard form the Grand Canal which is located some 2/300 yards to the south.
A holy well, dedicated to St. Bridget, is located between the roadway and the Grand Canal.
Less than half a mile westwards are the ruins of Ballycowan Castle, a fortified hosue and bawn, originally an O'Molloy stronghold but latterly occupied by Sir Jaspar Herbert and his family up until the 17th Century. The close proximity of Church and Castle would suggest a connection between the two sites. The Old Church Kilbride is also said to have been 'a Chapel-of-ease for Durrow (pers. comm. M. Byrne, O.H.A.S.).