Killea (Cill Aodh – literally the church founded by Aodh) gets its name from the 5th-century church established by Aodh, a disciple of Saint Declan of Ardmore, but the ruined church now visible is of medieval origin. There has been a
Catholic church in the village since at least the 13th century, as noted in the Papal taxation list of parishes of 1302-1306, and in a later list from 1437. Remnants of the original chapel can be seen in the village's old church cemetery. In 1832, the current church ''St. James' Church of Killea'' was built, with the foundation stone laid by Reverend Patrick Fant, parish priest of Templemore. Reverend William Heffernan was chosen to oversee construction of the church. At the time,
Saint James was particularly popular in the area and had a dedicated
well in nearby Kilkip to which sick people travelled on his
feast day. ==See also==