No roadway leads up to this church, however if you hop a gate nearby its a short stroll up through the field to the old Leney Church. Built in 1817, the church and graveyard are now in a terrible state of neglect. The inside of the church is completely overgrown, but the pillars and remnants of the stained glass windows look haunting through the branches. The only reference I could find about the church comes from a book written in 1908 “Leney was in very indifferent repair, a dirty earthen floor, the Communion table not railed in, no utensils.” (The Diocese of Meath by John Healy). At the altar the old handrails and bits of tile give a hint of how beautiful this place once was. Well worth a quick stop off on the road to Carrick On Shannon from Dublin. I must admit that the quality of these photos is not amazing and I hope to revisit the site in the spring, but the evening was closing in and rain hampered me a fair bit.
GPS: 53.61201, -7.43431
I’m trying to find out the history of the Gaynor’s at Leney…where can I go?
Jeremy Gaynor Adelaide Australia
Hmm I wouldn’t be sure, the NLI.ie might be a good starting point.
My gggrand parents worshiped here and baptized three of their children in this church. I can see the beauty through the faded paint and the stain glass windows. I wonder if John MaGee is buried in the graveyard?
Hi Beth, perhaps this might be of help to you http://www.interment.net/ireland/
I just looked through my book by Peter Wallace that lists all headstones in all he surrounding cemeteries. I didn’t see any MaGee’s listed.
Could someone tell me where on a map I could see the location of this church.
Joe if you enter these coordinates into google maps you’ll find it 53.61201, -7.43431
Jeremy,
If, you contact a Peter Wallace in Leny, I am sure he can help. He is the local historian and has written books on the area.
Thanks for this Joe:)
My GG Grandparents married there in 1849. Robert David Dagg 1826-1909 and Lucinda Catherine Wilson 1832-1903.
They had 3 sons while still in Ireland then migrated to New Zealand in 1856 where they settled in Masterton and had more children. I have a lot of information of their life since arriving in New Zealand but very little of their life and families before. Would love if family still in Ireland have more information.