St. Colmcille's House
St. Colmcille's House
4
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4.0
18 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
5
Average
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2
Terrible
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Christy_Luv2
Gorey, Ireland1,908 contributions
Aug 2022
So small, yet such history.. PAT gave a very interesting talk on the house's history.. Thank You All concerned. Kells is a highly recommended place to visit.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Louise833
Durham, NC357 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
We stopped by the Kells Information Center upon arrival in town. They were helpful and able to provide much information about what to see in the town of Kells, and the surrounding area.
She also asked is we would be in town for awhile and asked if we’d like to go into St. Columcille’s House. She was able to call someone to meet us and let us it.
So impressive to see how secluded and dark it was inside. There were 3(?) floors originally and a tunnel that connected to the church.
We enjoyed our entire visit in Kells, but this was a very special place and I thought it worth passing on as others have been frustrated that it is not open.
She also asked is we would be in town for awhile and asked if we’d like to go into St. Columcille’s House. She was able to call someone to meet us and let us it.
So impressive to see how secluded and dark it was inside. There were 3(?) floors originally and a tunnel that connected to the church.
We enjoyed our entire visit in Kells, but this was a very special place and I thought it worth passing on as others have been frustrated that it is not open.
Written 3 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ann1989
Virginia181 contributions
Jun 2022
We were only able to view the house from the street, but there is an informative historical marker. It is too close to the Kells Monastic Site not to make an effort to see it. Relevant authorities may wish to consider how best to allow visitors to see inside the house.
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CanIstay
County Wicklow, Ireland158 contributions
Aug 2020
Should be a centrepiece of a visit to Kells but is now just hidden within an urban environment. What a shame the area around it was not protected better.
Worth seeing but could be so much more. Perhaps an exit from the rear of the monastic settlement leading to here would be usefull to tie them together.
Worth seeing but could be so much more. Perhaps an exit from the rear of the monastic settlement leading to here would be usefull to tie them together.
Written 31 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Glenveightravel
Navan, Ireland1,084 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
Kells itself is full of Christian history with lots of nearby Celtic crosses, this is another example from that period of an old monks church or possibly a little church. Not really accessible but it is possible if you make enquires. A quick photo is all you can expect. There is some interesting historical information outside on the history of this place so worth a read if you are passing by.
Written 23 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eoghan
4 contributions
Oct 2019
Dropped into the tourist office in the town to arrange access to this site which is otherwise locked. The building is similar to St. Kevin’s church in Glendalough with a pitched roof constructed from stone. The original door on the west elevation has been closed up and relocated to the south elevation. All and all an interesting building but by no means as interesting as Gallarus Oratory. Setting is disappointed as the built up area of the town has subsumed this site.
Written 1 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Natasha T
Singapore, Singapore84 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Interesting history behind it, however, there is nothing much to do besides take a picture of it. The nearby area has a church which is also worth a look by this house on its own is not open to the public, so taking a picture from the gate is as exciting as it gets. If you are passing by, it would be worth stopping.
Written 15 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Donna S
Florence, WI1,601 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
You can telll from the variants of the name, the history here is quite confusing. Facts seem to be that this was an Irish-born saint of the 6th century, who ended up losing his life in Germany, when a ruler's wife had him beheaded cuz he termed her marriage to her former bro-in-law to be invalid. Whatever. . . Anyway, the house wasn't actually built til almost 400 years later, and may have been used as a monks' sleeping quarters, a storage place for holy scriptures, or perhaps a minor chapel of the nearby St Columb's Church. Rarely open, you can supposedly ask a neighbor, Mrs Carpenter, to let you in, but I wouldn't count on it. It's situated just down Church Lane from the main church, near the top of a hill with newer homes on all sides.
Written 28 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
phoenixesrose
Dublin, Ireland489 contributions
Mar 2017 • Solo
Charming house, top of the hill from the church. There's a key at a house close to the church and you can go in and visit the inside of this 9th century pile of stones. I didn't - but it doesn't cost anything if you find out which house it is that has the key. (It's something like the 14th house from the location).
Written 31 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland8,612 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
Such a beautiful charming little house, hidden away right in the heart of Kells, a short walk from the Monastic Site. St. Colmcilles house is tiny really and although there is not a lot to see, what there is is well worth it!
The key can be got from the keyholder, a lady down the street... 17 houses down as the remarkable precise plaque on the wall tells you!
It really put me in mind of the Gallarus Oratory and other beehive huts in Kerry, it has a very similar look. Well worth a stop if you are in the area.
The key can be got from the keyholder, a lady down the street... 17 houses down as the remarkable precise plaque on the wall tells you!
It really put me in mind of the Gallarus Oratory and other beehive huts in Kerry, it has a very similar look. Well worth a stop if you are in the area.
Written 20 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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St. Colmcille's House, Kells
Frequently Asked Questions about St. Colmcille's House
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