Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on the S-facing slope of a N-S drumlin ridge and overlooking a slight col at the N end of Cloone village. An early monastery was founded in Cluain Conmaicne during the 6th century by St Cruimhthear Fraoch, and it survived up to the 12th century at least. ‘Cruimhthear’ means presbyter or priest. Fraoch, the son of Carthach, was descended from the ancestors of Conmaicne Rein, and he could represent a pre-Christian deity. The coarbs or successors of Fraoch were one of twelve coarbs who played an official role in the inauguration of the O’ Rourke kings of Breifne, and an O’ Rourke relic, the míosach – the monthly one, probably a calendar - was kept at Cloone. St Columcille visited Fraoch before he departed into exile at Iona. Fraoch’s sister, Fíonmhaith, was the mother of St. Bearach of Termonbarry (RO024-016001-), and Fraoch baptised his nephew who is said to have been born in Aughagranny, thought to be Gortnalougher, near Cloone (Pinkman 1942, 40). In some sources Fraoch was a contemporary of St Caillín of Fenagh (LE026-096001-), which he was entitled to inherit on Caillín’s death, but according to the Book of Fenagh Caillín forbid anyone to be buried at Cloone. (Ó Riain 2011, 353-4)

It is recorded (AFM) that Muirgheas, the erenach or coarb of Cloone, died while on pilgrimage in 1101. The hereditary coarbs may have been of the Mac Thecheadhain or McKeehan family, as coarbs of this name are mentioned in 1373 and 1384. The monastery may have lasted into the sixteenth century since the coarb is praised as a master of hospitality in 1519 (Pinkman 1942, 39-40). In 1595 a hospital is mentioned for the first time when 52 small cartrons, or about three townlands, were connected with the abbey (Logan 1970, 57; Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 32, 348). The church was described as parochial 1406-1522 (MacNamee 1954, 592-4), although there may have been a separate parish church (LE033-008004-).

McParlan (1802, 107) says that stones from the abbey were visible in the windows and built into the walls of the Protestant parish church. This building was replaced in 1821 (Lewis 1837, 1, 379), and only its tower now remains in its own plot just N of the graveyard. A cross-base, the head of a round-headed window that could be mistaken for a possible bullaun stone, and four cross-slabs (Herity et al. 1997, 104-5) or more probably cross-inscribed stones, are in the graveyard, which also has a headstone with carvings of animals in false relief on the back. A second cross-base is almost buried close to this headstone. Two medieval stone heads carved on corbels and part of the shaft of a high cross (Grant 1994) are now incorporated in the reconstructed wall of the old graveyard at the entrance gate at S. Another fragment of the same cross, which might date from the 10th to the 12th century (Kelly 1993, 156-61), is displayed at the site of the old Roman Catholic church (LE033-008001-), which could be on the site of the medieval parish church (LE033-008004-). (Herity 2012, 387-8; MacNamee 1954, 112ff)

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 upload: 23 September 2008
Amended: 6 December, 2019

References

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

Pinkman, Rev. J. 1942 Some place names in Co. Leitrim. Journal of the Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Archaeological Society 11 (8), 34-46.

Herity, M., Kelly, D. and Mattenberger, U. 1997 List of Early Christian cross-slabs in seven north-western counties. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 127, 89-124.

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.

MacNamee, Rev. J.J. 1954 History of the diocese of Ardagh. Dublin. Browne and Nolan.

Kelly, D. 1993 Some remains of high crosses in the west of Ireland. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 123, 152-63.

AFM - Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. John O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint New York, 1966)

Grant, C. 1994 New Leitrim high cross. Archaeology Ireland 8 (4), 16-17.

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.