St. Kilian’s Heritage Centre (Áras Chillian)

Built by the local community in association with the

Diocese of Würzburg in southern Germany, the Heritage Centre features many relics and replicas of the saint.

A well-stocked exhibition area opens onto a small video theatre where one

may view a short film on the life of St. Kilian.The exhibition, which is introduced by a 15 minute audio-visual presentation, deals with St. Kilian and his times, his work, martyrdom and subsequent cult.It brings to life in maps, photographs, statuettes, manuscript facsimiles and art

reproductions, a glorious era in Irish Church history and the work of Irish missionaries in Europe in the 6th and 7th centuries.The exhibition also traces the development of gaelic script for the ogham writing of the 4th to the 7th centuries and the Wurzburg Glosses (the earliest example of written Irish c.750) to the illuminated script of the book of Kells.The Centre also houses a craft shop where the visitor may select artistic items of interest from a range of locally produced work.Adjoining the craft shop is a comfortable dining area where one may relax over lunch or coffee.