Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Just N-of-centre in graveyard (LI019-069002-). Roofless ruin of rectangular (20.1m E-W; 8.8m N-S) gable-ended church built of roughly coursed limestone with pinnings; walls partially ivy-clad though much of ivy recently cleared from structure. Doorway is W-of-centre in N wall has segmental arch over doorway; door surround has pointed arch and deep outside chamfer. Lit by four windows: in centre of E and W gables and near W end of both N and S walls. East window is missing its light but embrasure covered by segmental arch; base of light incorporated into an altar that was constructed in the 1980s. Window in W wall is covered by ivy and at attic level. South window is covered by flat arch and single light has ogee-head; N window has lintel covering embrasure and single ogee-headed light. There are two blocked-up presses: one near N end of E wall and the second just E of window in N wall. There is a stone head on outside of W gable, just above and to S of window; head protrudes through ivy. Head is roughly triangular in profile with 'bulbous' eyes and mouth and flat triangular nose. Interior is clear of overgrowth and contains six headstones, the earliest dated 1847, though there is a headstone placed against E wall with date of 1789. In 1840 a 'nearly destroyed small belfry' was noted atop W gable (OSL vol. 1, 140) but this now covered by ivy. Formerly parish church of Lismakeery built in 15th/16th century; it was still in 'good repair' in 1615 (Westropp 1904-5, 393).

Compiled by: Denis Power

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

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

References

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.

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