Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In the NE quadrant of a graveyard (CL008-049002-) and immediately to the N of a medieval house (CL008-049004-). Indicated and named 'Kilmoon Church (in Ruins)' on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. Recorded by Robinson (1977) as 'Kilmoon Ch. Early Christian, with 15th C. chapel' on his map of the Burren. Included as 'Kilmugown' in the Papal Taxation lists of 1302 (Cunningham 1980, 48). In 1839 in the OS Letters (Comber 1997, 70) it was suggested that the church was dedicated to St Múdhain/Muadanus/Mudanus. Westropp (1900-1902, 132) proposed that the founder may have been Mogua. This rectangular church (18.7m E-W; 6.9m N-S) is defined by stone walls of cyclopean construction. The OS Letters (Comber 1997, 70) mentioned that 'all its features are destroyed, so that nothing remains to guide the antiquarian in his conclusions as to its age but the character of the masonry, which looks ancient.' Westropp (1900-1902, 132) considered the masonry in these walls to be large and very early. Sheehan (1982, 46) concluded that the church was of 'probable early date'. The well-preserved N wall (Wth c. 0.9m; H 1.4m) is constructed of random-coursed, mortared limestone ashlars, with an external outshot (L 1.6m) which may be a buttress. This wall is incorporated into the N wall of the enclosing graveyard (CL008-049002-). Only the outer face of the E gable (H 1m) is visible. Westropp (ibid.) seems to have noted a plinth here, which is no longer visible. Only the outer face of the S wall's E end (L 7m; H 1m) survives, as well as intermittent traces of the wall-face in the central part of the wall. A very short stretch (L 1m) of the W gable survives, in the NW corner; the remainder of this wall has collapsed, forming a grass-covered rubble mound (H 1m). The church interior is filled with rubble; however, Westropp (ibid.) recorded a 'pier and corbel of an arched canopy over the altar'. To the S of the church and almost abutting it is a medieval house (CL008-049004-). There is a holy well (CL008-049003-) c. 157m to the WSW. There was a widely visible standing stone (CL008-052----) (now fallen) c. 470m to the ENE, which may have functioned as a termon marker associated with this medieval church.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 14 December 2022

References

Comber, M. (ed.) 1997 The antiquities of County Clare: John O’Donovan and Eugene Curry: Ordnance Survey Letters 1839. Clasp Press. Ennis.

Cunningham, G. 1980 Burren journey West. Shannonside Mid-Western Regional Tourism Organisation.

Sheehan, J. 1982 The early historic church-sites of north Clare. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 11, 29-47.

Westropp, T.J. 1900-02 The churches of Co. Clare and the origin of the ecclesiastical divisions in that county. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Series 3, vol. 6, 100-180.

Large, S. 2011 A church and graveyard survey in County Clare. Database and photographic record. Clare County Council. Clare Heritage Forum. The Heritage Council.