Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Church
Finner, County Donegal, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Finner
- County
- Donegal
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Church
- Latest-edition OS map
- Church (in Ruins)
- Coordinates
- 54.48830, -8.25595
- SMR number
- DG106-007----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1881 map "Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1881 · Ireland to Illustrate the Military Condition of the Country. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1904 · Sheet 4. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1922 · Ireland - northern section. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
A D-shaped graveyard (DG106-007001-) but without any evidence that the circle was originally completed. At the N end of enclosure, which is surrounded by a modern stone wall, is the remains of a church (DG106-008-). There was a chapel- of-ease here in 1600 (Leslie 1929, 197). The church was in use in 1835-6 (OS 6-inch map 1st edition) but had fallen into ruins by the middle of the 19th century (OS 6-inch map 2nd edition). Built of rubble with pinnings and some brick dressings, the surviving ivy-covered church ruins 16.1m by 5.35m internally represent a two period building. The earlier part is probably the W 11.9m of the church and is indicated by an exterior batter, c. 0.5m high on the N and S walls; the junction is clearly visible in the exterior face of the N wall. A gap in the corresponding position in the S wall, possibly the site of a window, was faced when the central section of the church was enclosed for burial by the insertion of two cross walls. The E gable with external plinth c. 10-15 cms high has a large central window with splayed ingoings and round-headed brick rear-arch; the small size of the brick is suggestive of a 17th century date for this addition. The N and S walls, c. 3.5m-4m high are featureless. The W section of the former has fallen away and there is a large gap in the W half of the latter. No trace of the NW corner remains and only the lower S section of the W gable with attached S return survives. The lower courses of a N wall of some other structure in line with that of the church, survive on the W. The site is located on level ground to the E of Finner Hill in good land a little inland from the sea.
The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated.
Date of upload: 22 September 2008
Nearby in the register
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Standing stoneunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.