Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture c. 30m to the E of the Camlin River, within a graveyard (LF013-016002-). There is a reference to 'the perpetual vicarage’ of Templemichael in 1412 (Cal. papal letters 1904, vol. 6, 368). In the same year it is recorded that people would receive relaxation of their penance if, 'on the feast of the dedication of St. Michael [September 29th] [they] visit and give alms for the repair of the parish church of Tempullmicheal in the diocese of Ardagh, whose walls and roof are in need of costly repair' (ibid., 246). In 1443 Walter Offergayl obtained the vicarage (ibid. 1912, vol. 9, 347) and in 1542 the rectory was leased to Walter Tirrell of Dublin (Nicholls 1994, vol. 1, 38). In 1615 a royal visitation of the diocese of Ardagh records that this church was in a good condition (Gray 1940, 25).
The church (ext. dims. 13.6m E-W; 7.5m N-S; wall T 0.9m) is densely overgrown with scrub and overgrowth making detailed examination impossible. The N, E and S walls survive to a height of 1m while the ivy-covered W wall is c. 2m high. The walls are built of random limestone rubble with evidence of mud mortar being used in places. The building is featureless apart from the remains of rebuilt doorway openings at the W end of the N and S walls but a report in 1975 (SMR file) recorded a possible window at the E end of the S wall. There is evidence of considerable rebuilding of the internal faces of the NE and SW corners. Several jambstones incorporated into the graveyard wall to the N, which appear to date to the second half of the 16th century, are probably from the church. One of them appears to be from the original doorway. It has a chamfered edge terminating at a stop and is similar to one in the doorway of the church (LF013-032001-) in Mullaghavorneen, c. 3.9km to the SSW. An unclassified castle (LF013-017----) was located to the SE.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 5 June 2013