Ecclesiastical site

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture with rock outcropping, to S of road known as 'Bealach Feabhradh, the ancient highway of Cill-na-Martra' (Murphy 1897, 277). Early ecclesiastical site (including site of church known as 'Cill Lachtaín' and ater as 'Cill-na-Martra'), built, according to tradition, in the 6th century AD (ibid.) and associated (Murphy 1898, 17) with the large ancient cemetery of Clohina (CO069-079----). Outline of foundations of church seen by Murphy who described it as 'sixty feet long by eighteen wide, built east and west with the altar in the east and the entrance in the west' (ibid., 17). Murphy noted that church stood' a few yards underneath Bealach Feabhradh' (ibid.) and after demolition rubble was used to build stone fence which now runs along line of this road (ibid.). However, according to local tradition, cairn of stones (7m N-S; 6m E-W; H c. 1.4m) which lies c. 70m S of 'Bealach Feabhradh' and within the burial ground (CO069-079----), is remains of St Lachtaín's church. Associated with church of St Lachtaín is holy well known locally as St Lachtaín's well (CO069-080----); two other holy wells (CO069-030----), also associated with St Lachtaín, lie c. 900m to the SW. Bullaun stone (CO069-055----) located inside roadside fence along 'Bealach Feabhradh' and two other bullaun stones (CO069-024001-; CO069-024002-), now in grounds of Reananeree Catholic Church, were, according to tradition, removed from Cill Lachtaín. Cross slab (CO069-062----) and possible cross slab (CO069-081----) were also located within site. Murphy (1898, 18) described three 'druidic dishes', small in size and made of 'greenish stone, that will ring like iron when tapped', which were also found here. Decorated quernstone and quernstone fragment found on site in 1984 were removed to Macroom museum. According to Murphy (ibid. 276) 12th century shrine of St Lachtaín's arm was 'preserved in this old church', though all other authorities associate it with Donaghmore church (CO050-102002-).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009