Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Westropp (1904-5, ) gives the following details about Donaghmore; 'A parish and prebend in Clanwilliam. The "Tripartite Life" says that St. Patrick baptised the men of Thomond at Domnach mor Maige Aine, at Tirglas, in the east of the present County Limerick (V. T. P., p. 307). It appears as Donaghmor and Douenathmor, 1200 and 1201, Dounaghmor, 1302 and 1410, being then a prebend; and Donnachmore cum Ballyag, alias Ardpatric, 1418. It was granted by Bishop Edward to Odo fitz Budci (B. B. L., p. 78). The Prior of Athissel restored it, Mayncrow, and Creuath Omayll to Bishop Hubert, 1239 (Ib., pp. 80-90). Maurice, Bishop of Killaloe, granted it to Bishop Gerald, 1275-99 (Ib., xxxvii.). Richard de Burgo claimed its lands from John Sweyn, 1300 (Plea R. 48 of xxviii Ed. I., m. 29 d.). Canon Robert Chaffe appointed it a prebend on death of Richard Arthur, 1593. It is shown on D. S. (A.) map 9.
Fabric - It is an early Celtic church, 26 feet [7.92m] by 39 feet 6 inches [12.03m] outside (O'Donovan), or 20 feet [6.09m] by 33 feet 8 inches [10.26m] inside. East gable is late and blank. The west door is massive, with a large lintel and inclined jambs. Garreglass glebe, in Donaghmore, is shown with a ruined church (D. S. (A.) 9). There are window slits in the south wall'.
Described in 1906 as following; 'The old church is about two miles east of the city. According to the Tripartite life of our National Apostle, all the churches that are called Domnach, or the Anglicised form Donagh, were originally founded by St. Patrick, and were so called because
he marked out their foundations on a Sunday. This church measures externally 39 feet [11.9m] by 26 feet [7.92m]. The side walls are about 11 feet [3.35m] high. The doorway is in the western gable, and is 6 feet 4 inches [1.93m] in height, its width at base 3 feet 1 inch [0.94m], and at top 2 feet 10 inches [0.86m]. There is also a window in this gable higher than the doorway, but to the right of it, which is considered a very unusual circumstance. It is very narrow from the outside, but splays inwardly. There is another similar to the one in Mungret church in the south wall near the eastern gable. The gables are thickly covered with ivy, and the church itself is in good preservation, retaining all the characteristics of the primitive Irish church' (Begley 1906, 120-1).

See attached drawing of doorway taken from Begley 1906.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 4 October 2018

References

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

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