Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In a graveyard (KD029-011004-) at the E edge of Ballymore Eustace, a historic town (KD029-011001-). According to Bradley et al. (1986, vol. 1, 77-8), the first reference to a church occurs in 1192, although the presence two high crosses (KD029-011006- and KD029-011007-) and a cross slab (KD029-011009-) in the graveyard indicates the existence of a significant pre-Norman church site. The church was a prebend of St. Patrick’s cathedral in Dublin from before 1227 when it was valued at 20 marks. It is referred to as the ‘church of Blessed Mary of Ballymore’ in a document of 1529-34. The church was described as in good repair in the Royal Visitation of 1615, but had deteriorated by the time of Archbishops Bulkley’s Visitation in 1630. Few physical remains survive: fragments of two walls are visible to the E (L 1.8m; H 3m; T 1.05m) containing a splayed ope, and S (L 2m; H c. 1m; T 1.05m) of the present, 19th-century church. A font (KD029-011010-) in the porch of the 19th-century church presumably came from the medieval church, while a second font (KD029-011013-) in the graveyard is said to have come from Coghlanstown church (KD029-005001-).

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 30 August 2013