Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Westropp (1904-5, 398) recorded the following details about Dunmoylan Church; 'Dunmolyn, 1291 ; Donmelyn, 1302; Dunmuilin, 1410; Dunmolyn, in O'connyll, 1452 (rental);Dunmaoilin, 1568 and 1580 (A.F.M.); Drumvoylin, 1615 a; Killearg, Dunmoylan, and Kilcoulman were granted to Sir T. Chambrelan, May, 1670 (Act Sett.). It belonged to Manisternegaylagh (see supra, 134).
Fabric - The south wall alone stood in 1840. The foundations are 42 feet [12.8m] by 18 feet [5.5m]. The south window and door are defaced, but the blocks of the latter show a round-headed, neatly moulded door with rosettes (circa 1500), walls 11 feet [3.35m] by 3 feet [0.9m]. It was ruined, but the walls entire, and had a west window and south door in 1657 (D. S. (B.), p. 3); near it is Tobereendowney well. The nearly-levelled dun (LI019-103----) to the north is 90 feet [27.4m] across.'
Church described in 1840 as following; 'The south wall remains but barely the foundation of the rest of the building can be traced. It was forty two feet long by eighteen feet in breadth. On the wall which now remains, and at the distance of five feet [1.5m] from the site of the east gable, there was a window which is now disfigured. The doorway was on the same wall, ten feet [3m] from the west gable, it is also disfigured, the only part remaining uninjured being the inside (inner arch), which is in the pointed style and formed of thin flags. The wall is about eleven feet [3.35m] high, three feet [0.9m] in thickness, and formed of large and small stones irregularly laid and cemented with gravel and lime mortar. There are at present no interments made at this old church' (OSL, 11). A tower-house like castle (LI019-243----) standing beside Dunmoylan church is depicted standing in the NE quadrant of Dunmoylan on the 1658 Down Survey map of the Barony of Connello (NLI, MS 718).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 20 November 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.

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.

NLI, MS 718 - National Library of Ireland, Parish maps with terriers, showing forfeited lands in County Limerick, commonly known as the "Down Survey", executed under the direction of Sir William Petty, 1657, and copied by Daniel O'Brien, 1786.