Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The medieval church ruins of Barrow (Bearrúin) stand in the parish of Ardfert, diocese of Ardfert and the barony of Trughanacmy. In 1302 the papal taxation of the Deanery of Offeria in the diocese of Ardfert listed the church of 'Barun' (Bearrúin) which was then valued annually at 10s. with the tithe valued at 12d. (Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 5, 295). In 1464 there is a reference to 'Hobertus Dondun [Hubert Stundon]' associated with the vicarage of the parish church of 'Rindbeara [Barrow/Berramhan]' (O'Connell and Costello 1958, 12). In 1473 there is a reference to David FitzMaurice and the perpetual vicarage of 'Rindwere alias Aglasnalanday' which had been vacant due to the resignation of Hubert Stundon (O'Connell and Costello 1958, 21). In 1477 John FitzMaurice was appointed to the vicarage of the parish church of 'Baron' (ibid., 25). In 1505 there is a reference to Edmund Fitzmaurice and the parish chruch of 'Aglaysnalany alias Keynucare [recte Reynbarra]' (ibid., 46).

Church ruins, children's burial ground and graveyard (KE028-004012-] described in 1989 as follows; 'On the lands of Mr Patrick Murphy may be seen what little remains of a very old church. It is attributed by some authorities to a St Baronthus, a contemporary of St Brendan (484-577) whom he influenced to sail into the unknown by telling him of a remarkable voyage of his son, Mernoc, in search of the Land of Promise. Sceptics need not feel apologetic for their incredulity of such stories, which appear to have all the attributes of mere folklore or pure myth. It measures internally 37 feet [11.2m] in length (from east to west) and 18 feet 3 inches [5.5m] in breadth. The entrance doorway was 15 feet 8 inches [4.7m] from the west gable, and appears to have been not less than 3 feet 10 inches wide [1.16m] in the ope. Similarly positioned was another door in the north wall, leading into an enclosed space, whose side walls were in line and contiguous with the gables and extended some 55 feet [16.76m]. In all probability, this 'compound' contained the priest's dwelling, or it may have been a small cemetery: a burial ground seems to have existed on the south side of the church, as evidenced by human bones having been accidently turned up in ploughing there many years ago, and not connected with the use of part of the ground as a children's cemetery [KE028-004004-] less than a century ago. All the walls of church and compound are uniform in thickness, 3 feet 3 inches [1m]' (Kelly 1989, 463). Ecclesiastical Remains entered onto the Register of Historic Monuments on 28 February 1992. See Iris Oifigiúil, 28th February, 1992, Schedule 1/92.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 19 May 2022

References

O'Connell, J. and Costello, M.A. 1958 Obligationes pro Annatis Diocesis Ardfertensis. Archivium Hibernicum, 21, 1-51.

Kelly, L. 1989 Blennerville: Gateway to Tralee's Past. Foras Áiseanna Saothair, Training and Employment Authority, Community Response Programme.

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).