Church

The National Monuments Service's description

National monument No. 341. In rough pasture, atop platform of limestone outcrop; overlooking Dromore Lough to N. Small antae-less church, dedicated to St Ultan (Ó Carragáin 2010, 312). Roofless ruin of rectangular gable-ended church (int. dims. 5.1m E-W; 3.05m N-S; wall thickness c. 0.7m). Built of roughly coursed limestone (with some sandstone) bonded by lime mortar; W wall rebuilt after it fell in mid-19th century during storm (Begley 1906, 117). Entered through plain lintelled door in centre of W wall; door has plain inclined sides and lintel supported by iron bar, it was rebuilt in 19th century (see above). Side walls are blank apart from small wall press (Wth 0.42m; D 0.5m) near E end of S wall, and a single projecting stone about mid-way along exterior, top of S wall. Single window is in centre of E gable: plain opening with splayed sides and a triangular head which splays upwards towards the inside; lower half has been blocked up (Westropp 1903-4, 386-7, plate 10). Leask (1955, vol. 1, 73) unsure of its date but considered it 'oldest church in the county'; otherwise date given as 8th century (Craig and Glin 1970, 45) and 9th/10th century (Duignan & Killanin 1962, 396). According to O'Donovan called Cill Ollta (OSL vol. 1, 21) though Spellissy says known locally as the Teampailli(fada)n (1989, 243); no traditions or history have survived regarding this church (OSL ibid.; Harbison 1992, 220). Used as a children's burial ground until 1910 (Spellissy ibid.) but now no trace of burials or burial markers in vicinity of church.
Westropp records the following details about Killulta; 'Ancient parish, perhaps Kyltuly,
in deed of G de Mareys, 1228 (B.B.L., xxiii.). Glanmithithig, 1410. Gleande church, 1418 and 1657 (D.S. (B), 16). Pococke calls it, in 1752, Killallatring (Tour, p. 114); Lewis, Killenalotar (vol. i., p. 321) ; Fitzgerald, Kilenalutter, i., p. 350. Fabric - It lies in Glen na Meade, and is an exceptionally ancient oratory on a bold rock. It is 16 feet [4.87m] by 9 feet 10 inches [3m], the walls 2 feet 8 inches [0.81m] of large blocks; the east end entire, its window with an angular head; Pococke compares it with the round towers, and considers it one of the oldest churches in Ireland ; Fitzgerald describes its west door as "Gothic", but that end fell, and has been roughly rebuilt. Near it is Tobermurry well [LF011-029----]' (Westropp 1904-5, 386-7).

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 4 October 2018

References

Harbison, P. 1992 Guide to the national and historic monuments of Ireland. Gill and Macmillan Ltd., Dublin.

Ó Carragáin, T. 2010 Churches in early medieval Ireland: architecture, ritual and memory. New Haven and London. Yale University Press.

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

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.

Begley, J. 1906 The Diocese of Limerick ancient and medieval. Dublin.

Craig, M. and Glin, The Knight of. 1970 Ireland observed: a handbook to the buildings and antiquities. Cork. Mercier Press.

Leask, H.G. 1955 (Reprint 1977 and 1987) Irish churches and monastic buildings, vol. I. The first phases of the Romanesque. Dundalk. Dundalgan Press.

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1962 Shell Guide to Ireland. London. Ebury Press.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Pococke, R. 1752 In G. Stokes (ed.), Pococke's Tour of Ireland in 1752, Dublin, 1894.

Fitzgerald, P. 1826-7 The history, topography, and antiquities of the county and city of Limerick. 2 vols. Dublin.