Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated immediately W of a steep slope overlooking the Poulacarran valley. A rectangular undifferentiated structure orientated ENE-WSW (int. dims. 17.5m ENE-WSW; 6.33m NNW-SSE) of erratically coursed limestone blocks with good quoins. It has two phases of construction, the first at the end of the 12th or the early 13th century and a later 15th century phase. Most of the walls, the doorway, the E window and the embrasures in the S wall all belong to the earlier phase while elements of later fortification (a machicolation at the NW corner, the wall-walk and drain-holes) as well as the window opes (not the embrasures) in the S wall belong to the later period. The walls (H 4.1-4.2m; Wth 1.05m) seem to have been built as independent units up to the 1m level. This is most apparent on the inside of the SW angle where the vertical joints are clearly visible. A plinth visible under the S wall becomes more apparent towards the E due the slight slope in ground surface. This S wall has a pointed doorway (Wth 1.1m; H 2.1m) with a hood moulding and three orders, the central one of which has a keel moulding. Internally the doorway has a flat arch with traces of plank centring. There is a hanging eye on the W side and a draw-bar slot with a latch-stone above it on the E side. The W jamb has an incised consecration cross with expanded terminals. A rectangular stoup occupies the E ingoing. A fragment of a rotary quern is built into the inner face of the wall just above and to the E of the doorway. There are two windows towards the E end of the S wall, both of which have round-arched embrasures with dressed ingoings. The most westerly is a simple rectangular ope while the one to the E has an ogee head with hood moulding and decorated spandrels. The window in the E gable has a single lancet with a transom and the embrasure has been repaired with small stones. A probable 18th century altar tomb occupies the NE angle of the interior.
Opposite the S doorway in the N wall there is evidence of a former opening (Wth 1.05m; H 1.3m). The straight sides are apparent but the head is irregular. At the E end of the interior of the N wall is a stone carving of the helmeted head of a soldier or knight, described in detail by Higgins (1992). The helmet covers the ears and the sides of the face. There were originally three heads in the N wall. The others depicted a king with a foliate crown and a woman with an elaborate headdress and are now missing (photos of all three in situ in Higgins 1994, 16).
Four corbels (H 2.4m over present ground level) in the W wall indicate the former presence of an upper level. Traces of a belfry over the W wall were noted by Swinfen (1992, 9). The NW corner of the church has a corner machicolation which was conserved in 2017. At that time steps were revealed between the machicoulis and the gable ridge, between an inner and outer gable, providing a continuous wall-walk over the gable (Ua Cróinín 2017). Architectural fragments that had fallen were reinstated. Only two corbels remain at the W end of the N wall. The N and S walls have drain-holes above which are two openings placed c. 4m from the W end of the N and S walls. The machicoulis may indicate that this corner projected outside a high defensive wall vestiges of which can still be discerned near the western boundary wall (Ua Cronin 2017). The bowl of a font (CL009-075012-) with a grotesque head was noted near the altar (Higgins 1992, 21) and is now missing. Two elements from a set of medieval amulets called the ‘Nine Irons’ were found here (Higgins 1983, 75-83).

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 27 April 2021

References

Higgins, J. 1983 An example of ‘Nine Irons’ from Co. Clare. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 25, 75-83.

Higgins, J. 1992 Medieval sculptures from Carran Church, Co. Clare and their significance. The Other Clare 16, 21-6.

Higgins, J. 1994 Further medieval sculpture at Carran Church, County Clare and its significance. The Other clare 18, 16-19.

Ua Cróinín, Risteard 2017 Report on excavation and completion of conservation works. Carran medieval church, Poulacarran, Carran, Co. Clare. Monument Number: CL009-075001-. Licence: Ministerial Consent. No. C000793. https://www.burrengeopark.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Carran-Medieval-Church-Conservation-Report.pdf (Accessed 26 April 2021)

Swinfen, A. 1992 Forgotten stones: Ancient church sites of the Burren and environs. Dublin. Lilliput Press.

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