Church

The National Monuments Service's description

On top of a hillock known locally as Tulla Hill, at the E edge of the village, with extensive views across rolling pasture in all directions. Situated in the centre of an ecclesiastical enclosure (CL035- 022001-), within an historic graveyard (CL035-022004-), immediately adjacent to N of an early 18th-century church (CL035-022003-) and to E of the site of a castle (CL035-022005-). Three low wall footings may collectively represent the remains of the early church. The first (L 1.27m; min. Wth 0.53m) is likely to represent the N wall of the church and is located adjacent to S of the northern enclosing wall of the graveyard, where it is due N of the extant church (CL035-022003-). The remains are flush with the present ground level and can be seen just above the sod within the graveyard. The second wall footing (L 1.05m; min. Wth 0.23m; H 0.15m), possibly representing the NE corner of the church, projects outwards from base of graveyard enclosing wall and has a slight base batter (Wth at base 0.23m; Wth at top 0.18m). The third wall footing (L 9.73m; min. H 0.38m; max. 0.92m) extends (long-axis N-S) from the graveyard enclosing wall at N, to the NE corner of the shallow chancel of the 18th-century church and may represent the E wall of the medieval church. This wall has been compromised by modern repairs and is not easy to date. The precise nature of these wall remains and their relationship to one another, if any, could only be determined through archaeological excavation.
According to Westropp (1911, 187), ‘Mr Alfred Molony heard his father say that part of their family vault embodied the foundations of another wall of the older church. The vault of the O’ Connells of Kilgorey partly covered it’. A diagram by Westropp (1911, 18) shows the site of the medieval church defined by the graveyard wall to N, the Molony and O’Connell tombs to E and the early 18th-century church to the S. The portion of graveyard wall adjacent to the N of the church (CL035-022003-) is labelled ‘old church wall’ and measured as 52’ 2” (c. 16m) (ibid.). The rectangular outline of this church appears to be depicted on the 1921 edition OS 6-inch map and named as ‘St Mochulla’s Ch. (in ruins)’, however it is neither depicted nor named on the earlier historic map editions.
According to excavations by Myles (2009, 58, no. 257), ‘Evidence for the medieval church was found ex-situ in the rubble masonry removed prior to the excavation of the trench; this comprised several moulded sandstone fragments of a Romanesque door surround.’ In previous excavations, Myles (2005, 162), indicates that, ‘A fragment of a sandstone door or window moulding was recovered……suggesting it is the well-endowed church referred to in historical sources. These architectural fragments have been gathered together and are located toward the eastern side of an extension to the historic graveyard.’ According to Myles (2009, 58, no. 257), ‘an earlier tradition suggests that the shrine or even the grave of St Mochulla was located at the crest of the hill, where the chancel of the medieval church was probably situated. This area is now occupied by a substantial vault occupied by deceased members of the Moloney family’.

The following images have been uploaded:
CL035-022002-_01.jpg From WSW. Potential wall footing of St Mochulla’s Church (CL035-022002-) at base of graveyard enclosing wall, on interior. Note rear gable of Moloney tomb in background.
CL035-022002-_02.jpg From NNW. Potential NE corner footing of St Mochulla’s Church (CL035-022002-) incorporated into base of graveyard enclosing wall, on exterior. Note potential base batter to this wall.
CL035-022002-_03.jpg From SE. Potential wall footings of E-wall belonging to St Mochulla’s Church (CL035-022002-) incorporated into base of two gable-ended tombs of the Moloney (N) and O’Connell (S) families.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Alison McQueen

Date of upload: 9 January 2018

References

Westropp, T.J. 1911 St Mochulla of Tulla, County Clare: his legend and the entrenchments and remains of his monastery. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 41, 5-19.

Myles, F. 2009 St Mochulla's Church, Tulla. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2006: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 58. Bray. Wordwell.

Myles, F. 2008 St Mochulla's Church, Tulla, 18th century church. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2005: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 39-40. Bray. Wordwell.

Westropp, T.J. 1911 Miscellanea: Tulla Churches, Co. Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries 41, 187.

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