Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Medieval church of Kilcornan was located in graveyard (LI011-019----) situated on S side of road; entrance from road through wrought iron gates hung from ashlar limestone piers. Rectangular shaped graveyard enclosed by post-1700 stone wall. No surface remains visible of the site of the medieval church of Kilcornan, however two medieval window mullions with glazing grooves are visible as grave markers in centre of graveyard. These mullions came from a twin light window in the medieval church. A 19th century mausoleum belonging to the Boland family located in the NE quadrant of the graveyard has reused the cut stone doorway of the medieval church. This pointed limestone doorway has spandrels decorated with stiff leaf foliage. A group of mausolea located in the NE quadrant of this graveyard may have incorporated fabric of the medieval church or were built on the footprint of the medieval church. The alternating long and short quoins on the NE angle of the Waller family mausoleum are similar to quoins found on a medieval church.
The Ordnance Survey Name Books (ref, 25) and Westropp (1904-5) suggested that the medieval church was located on the site of the C of I church (LI011-022---) located 185m to ENE. However Spellissy (1989, 242) suggested that the site of the parish church of Kilcornan was located in this graveyard.
Westropp gives the following details about Kilcornan Church; 'Kellchurnan, 1201, Enfeoffed to Bishop Hubert, c. 1240 (B.B.L., p. 132), 1291-1302. Gleande and Monehury churches are called Kilcurnan, 1418. W. Casey, its rector, made bishop at request of James, Earl of Desmond, 1551. Tirrylagh MacBrene, its chaplain, got English liberty same year (Fiant, 881). Its rector, Maurice f. Gerald, pardoned, 1552 (Ib., 961). Churnanbeg was of Cilchurnain in Caenraighe, Jan. 6 ("Martyrology of Donegal" pp. 9, 393). Site - It was in repair, 1657 (D.S. (B.), 17; Petty, 70).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 14 November 2018

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

References

Spellisy, S. 1989 Limerick, the rich land. The Celtic Bookshop.

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

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

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.