Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the small Inishmagrath Island (area c. 3 ha; c. 8 acres) near the N shore of Lough Allen, and probably the site of the parish church of Inishmagrath, which was sometimes known as the ‘Parish of the Island’ (Lewis 1837, 2, 24). The church is an overgrown rectangular structure (int. dims 10.2m E-W; 4.44m N-S) built of coursed masonry and survives fairly complete (H 2m), except the N wall which is reduced to a cairn. There are no windows, doorways or other architectural features visible. It is within a rectangular graveyard defined by earth and stone banks but there is no evidence of grave-markers, although traditionally it was a popular burial place of burial (M'Parlan 1802, 105-7). Funerals departed for the island from Gob na nDaoine Marbh – Dead Man’s Point, which is the nearest point of the shore c. 300m to the NE. (Fuaghnan 1943, No. 143; Clancy and Forde 1980, 6-9)

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.

Date of revised upload: 6 July 2017

References

Faughnan, D. 1943 ITA topographical and general survey. Ballinamore Library, Co Leitrim, (file no. 140). Unpublished.

Clancy, E. and Forde, J. 1980 Ballinaglera parish, Co. Leitrim: aspects of its history and tradition. Ballinaglera. Authors.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

McParlan, M.D. 1802 Statistical survey of the county Leitrim. Dublin.