Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a low natural rise in undulating limestone outcrop c. 0.5km W of Kilfenora. A small rectangular building (int. dims. 7.9m E-W; 4.3m N-S) largely collapsed. Intermittent remains of the N wall foundations are surmounted by a modern wall. A mound (H 0.25m; Wth 1.1m) of grassed-over rubble is all that remains of the E gable. The S wall (L 5.6m; H 2.25m; T 0.73m) is constructed of roughly coursed, mortared limestone with no remaining features. A mound with possible internal stone facing marks the W gable and it is also surmounted by a modern wall. A plain recumbent graveslab lies in the interior. Stone foundations outside the SW corner (L 2.25m) suggest that the building may originally have been larger. Undulations in the field immediately to the W suggest further building activity. The church may have been part of a leper hospital (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 352). Kilcarragh church is a national monument in State care, no. 7.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 20 May 2015

References

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

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.