St Imy Celebration, St Imy's Church, Killimer

What to Expect

Killimer takes its name from Cill Iomair, the church of Imy, and the parish keeps the memory of its patron with an annual celebration at St Imy’s Church. The Diocese of Killaloe lists the 2026 celebration for Sunday 16 August with a 10.30am start. It is a local patronal occasion rather than a large pilgrimage, the sort of morning where the parish turns out in numbers and visitors are simply folded in.

Patronal celebrations in the diocese are normally built around a Mass in honour of the saint, with the parish choir leading the music and a homily that draws on the saint’s story and the history of the site. Killimer’s own past is close at hand: the graveyard beside the church holds the grave of Ellen Hanley, the Colleen Bawn, whose 1819 death on the Shannon became one of the best known stories in the county. The diocesan listing gives the start time but no detailed order of service, so the parish newsletter is the place to check whether there is a graveyard blessing, a procession or refreshments afterwards. There is no charge and no booking.

Good to Know

• Sunday 16 August 2026, from 10.30am, at St Imy’s Church, Killimer.
• Free to attend and open to visitors as well as parishioners.
• Confirm the final programme with Killimer parish or the Killaloe diocesan office on +353 65 682 8638.
• The adjoining graveyard is worth a walk afterwards for the Colleen Bawn grave.
• Sunday morning parking is on the roadside around the church, so allow a few extra minutes.

Getting There

Killimer is on the Shannon estuary in west Clare, a few minutes east of Kilrush on the N67 and best known as the Clare end of the Killimer to Tarbert car ferry. Coming from Ennis, take the N68 to Kilrush and follow the ferry signs; from Limerick the shorter route for many is the Tarbert ferry crossing, which lands within walking distance of the village. Kilrush is the nearest town for parking, food and fuel, and Bus Eireann’s Limerick to Kilkee service serves Kilrush, but you will want a car for the last few kilometres to the church.