Kilmore is a very extensive parish in south Wexford. It is bounded on the north by Cleristown and Murrintown; on the south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the east by Ballymore and Mayglass; and on the west by Rathangan and Cleristown. It represents the older parishes of Kilmore, Kilturk, Tomhaggard and Mulrankin.

Tradition associates St Patrick with Kilmore, and visitors are well acquainted with the causeway of rocks extending to the Little Saltee islands called St Patrick's Bridge.

In 1245 the monks of Tintern Abbey acquired Kilmore, Kilturk and Tomhaggard. The church of Kilmore was dedicated to St Patrick. Tomhaggard was dedicated to St Mosacer, and Mulrankin was dedicated to St David. The patron day of Kilmore was transferred to the 19th March so as not to clash with the celebrations of St Patrick's Day, and hence some assumed that St Joseph was the Patron. St Cuana the Leper is said to have been the Patron of Kilurk, but the patron day is April 4th.

The last Catholic rector of Tomhaggard under the old regime was Rev. Balthazar Butler, in 1552, while at the same time Rev. Thomas Synnott was Vicar of Mulrankin. On July 31st 1578, William Pratt was given a patent by the Crown of the right of the next presentation to "the recotires of Tamhaghard and Killaloge, and the vicarages of Kilturk and Kilmore."

13th century church in Tomhaggard

Cameo of John Henry Colclough preserved in the National Museum