Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a knoll on the floor of Glencar valley. A square graveyard (dims 32m N-S; 32m E-W), defined by mortared stone walls (H 1.4m), is possibly on the site of an early church founded by St Osnat in the 6th century (O'Hanlon 1875, vol. 1, 86-7; O'Connell 1937, 108-9). The graveyard has been extended to the W (dims c. 50m E-W; c. 30m N-S). Osnad was said to be one of the many children of Cuman, an aunt of St Bridget, and by some as one of the three sisters of St Molaise of Devinish, but otherwise she is hardly known (Ó Riain 2011, 522-3). A church at Cill Asnad is on a 17th century list of churches in north Leitrim (Mooney 1946a, 66), but the parish church (LE007-063001-) may have been intended. A fragment of a medieval window mullion in the graveyard is the only indication of a later, medieval, church, but the head of a stone cross (Wth c. 0.75m; H c. 0.5m; T c. 0.2m) with a solid ring and a figure with outstretched arms on both faces is thought to have been moved from here to the Roman Catholic church of Dromahair (NMI file), where it cannot now be found. This cross could be as late as the 17th century.

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revised upload: 12 January, 2016

References

O'Connell, P. 1937 The Diocese of Kilmore: its history and antiquities. Dublin. Browne and Nolan.

O'Hanlon, Rev. J. 1875-1903 Lives of the Irish saints. Dublin, London and New York.

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

Mooney, C. 1946a Topographical fragments from the Franciscan Library. Celtica 1, 64-85.