Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in reclaimed grassland with ringfort (LI004-007----) 85m to NNW, Mellon Castle (LI004-023----) 470m to NE, ringfort (LI004-006----) 240m to SSW, stream 25m to W. Glebe land of church immediately to W as depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. Ruins of rectangular church with entrance porch at W end standing in N quadrant of square-shaped graveyard (LI004-008002-). Medieval parish church of Ardcanny in the barony of Kenry was also known as Teampall Ard Caithne.
Church ruins described in the Ordnance Survey Letters of 1840 as following; 'The ruined church of this parish is a modern building which was roofed until about 2 years ago, when the roof was removed for the purpose of repairing it, but it has remained since in its present roofless condition. It is situated in the Glebe of Mellon, about a quarter of a mile south of the Shannon, not on very high ground. It is called Teampull a Mhulláin' (OSL Vol. 2, 5).
Westropp (1904-5, 387) gives the following details about Ardcanny Church; A parish and prebend. Ardcatini, 1201; Ardchatin, 1204; Ardatny, 1291; Ardcathny, 1302 and 1418, being then prebendal. Ardcanny, in Kenryhurragh (Peyton, p. 216). Ard Cana, ' Hill of Cana' (O'Donovan) ; but Ardcanny, in Kerry, was Ardnacaitne, "Arbutus Hill".
Fabric - A late church, locally Templeamhullain, from the townland of Mellon or Maeleen. It was roofed in 1838. St. Bridget's well (LI004-003----) is half a mile [780m] to the west (O.S.L., 8, p. 5).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 1 October 2018

See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – taken on 04/03/2006.

References

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.