Church

The National Monuments Service's description

St. Michael’s church was situated towards the centre of Inis Cealtra on Lough Derg within a small children’s burial ground (CL029-009004-) which is itself within a possible ringfort (CL029-009131-). The lower courses of a very small mortared stone structure (ext. dims. 2.8m x 2.7m) oriented WNW-ESE were excavated by de Paor in 1972-3. He found it to be without foundations but it was paved internally with flags. Macalister had described a building of roughly coursed flat stones with a doorway at W (Wth 0.48m). A small fragment of moulded stone which may have been associated was found lying inside the building in 1916. De Paor established that this building was late within the chronology of activity in this area which spanned about AD 1500 to the late 19th century and was likely to have been constructed while the surrounding enclosure was in use for infant burial. This was one of the stations during pilgrimages and a large sandstone block (CL029-009052-) within the burial ground was used as a penitential station during the rounds. The area is much overgrown and only the penitential station is evident. Iniscealtra is a national monument in state care, no. 5. (Macalister 1916, 117-18; de Paor 2013, 36-7)

The following image is attached:
CL029-009003-_01.jpg View of St. Michael's church from NW during excavation.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 13 October 2015

References

Macalister, R.A.S 1916-17 The history and antiquities of Inis Cealtra. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 33C, 93-174.

de Paor †, L. 2013 Inis Cealtra: Archaeological investigations of the monuments on the island. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 53, 27-78.

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