Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the W bank of the river Fergus, within Dromore Wood. Described by Westropp (1900-02, 142) as 'rudely built foundations remaining in Dromore and named 'Kilvakee Church' on the 1920 OS 6-inch map. A rectangular structure (int. dims. 9.6m E-W; 5.35m N-S) defined by the base of masonry walls (T 0.9m; max. H 2m at the W end of the N wall). There is an alcove (Wth 0.9m; D 0.55m) and a shelf on the W wall, but no doorway or window can be identified. Cairn material (H 0.4-1m) has been cleared back from the inside of the wall, leaving a space (Wth 0.4-0.6m) between it and the original wall. It is regarded locally as a penal church (Swinfen 1992, 20), and it is indicated on the 1842 ed. of the OS 6-inch map within a large enclosure (CL026-001002-). There is no evidence of this feature at ground level.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 28 November 2016

References

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.

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.