First wedding at Laois church in over 800 years
Ciara Burke from Abbeyleix with her Canadian husband-to-be Har Kaila
A PEACEFUL medieval church will host its first marriage ceremony in more than 800 years this week.
The ruins of sixth-century Clonkeen Church will welcome Ciara Burke and Har Kaila for a marriage blessing, celebrated by Abbeyleix PP Fr Paddy Byrne, at 7pm on Wednesday 10 September.
A native of Ballytarsna, Abbeyleix and now living in Canada, Ciara will travel with her Canadian boyfriend Har for the special occasion, when they will gather at the idyllic site with family and friends.
While a monastic site was founded at Clonkeen in the sixth or seventh century, the present-day stone church ruins date primarily to the mid-12th century.
The youngest of seven, Ciara is a daughter of Noel Burke, local historian and a member of the Clonkeen Church committee that has overseen ongoing conservation at the site.
She is looking forward to joining her dad, her mother Patricia and siblings Paul, Helen, Lorraine, Noel Jnr, Kevin and Tara at the celebration.
Ciara spent two years working in Australia before emigrating to Vancouver in September 2019. A recruitment consultant officer, she was selected to represent Canada in an international futures leaders program, one of 40 across the world.
The ‘official’ wedding happened in Clonakility, West Cork on 3 September but the Clonkeen blessing will be the icing on the cake.
The ceremony will coincide with the final cemetery Mass of 2025 in the parish of Abbeyleix, which will be celebrated by Fr Byrne PP in Clonkeen Church Graveyard at 7pm on 10 September.
Noel said: 'This wedding ceremony will be the first such event to have been celebrated in Clonkeen Church in at least 800 years. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend this special service and cemetery mass.'
A QR code that will be displayed at the entrance gate to the church on the same date contains full details of the site's history and ongoing conservation.
