Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Named 'Templecarragh' on Noble and Keenan's 1752 Map of County Kildare, and 'Temple Carragh' (in ruins) on Taylor's 1782 map of the county. At the N end of a short, low, N-S pasture ridge. A very poorly preserved, rectangular structure (int. dims. L 8.3m E-W; Wth 4.1m) is built of randomly coursed limestone blocks and flags. The thick walls (av. T 1m) are almost levelled (max. H 1.6m) and a rubble-filled gap (Wth 1.4m) to W of centre in the N wall may be the site of the original doorway. Windows do not survive, but gaps in the E gable wall (Wth 1.5m) and near the W end of the S wall (Wth 1.6m) mark their locations. A single, chamfered quoin is visible on the external SE angle. A grass covered, raised, rectangular area, running E from the E gable (L 7.4m E-W), defined by a scarp (H 0.8m) may be the remains of an associated structure, although it appears unlikely to have been a chancel. Fitzgerald (1905, 355) noted the occurrence of human bones at the site, suggesting a possible graveyard (KD019-029001-).

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011