Church

The National Monuments Service's description

On the summit of a hillock, close to the NE extent of Edgeworthstown (LF015-063----). Possibly the site of an early foundation as the Annals of the Four Masters record the death of 'Forannan, Bishop of Meathas Truim' in 751 AD (AFM, vol. 1, 353). In 1410 Nemeas Offergail, an Augustininan canon of the priory of St Mary, Inishmore, was granted the priory and the rectory of ‘St Michael's Russach, alias of St Vadan's, Mascruym’ (Cal. papal letters, vol. 6, 236). Granted to Roger Atkinson in 1611 (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 214). A church is depicted on an early 17th-century map of Ardagh barony (BL, Cotton MS Augustus I.ii.25) and the terrier of the Down Survey map (1655-6) of Mastrim parish records that there was 'a Church on the Gleabe of this parrish' (NLI, MS 713). The precise location of the church has not been identified but it may have been located on or close to present church (C of I). This is an 18th-century church with 19th-century alterations.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 4 June 2013

References

Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I - Irish patent rolls of James I: facsimile of the Irish record commissioners' calendar prepared prior to 1830, with foreword by M.C. Griffith (Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 1966)

Cal. papal letters - Calendar of entries in the papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: papal letters, 1198-1484 [etc.] (London, 1893-)

AFM - Annála ríoghachta Éireann: Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. J. O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint Dublin 1990, de Búrca Rare Books.)

British Library, Cotton Manuscripts, Augustus I. Charts of the baronies of Granard, Rathcline, Longford, Ardagh, Shrule and Moydow, County Longford. London. (microfilm, NLI p. 1364)

NLI, MS 719 - National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey of Co. Longford attested by W. Petty under date 1657. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 22 maps with accompanying terriers, 1786-7. Dublin.