Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The church ruins at Cappagh was known in medieval period as Kilmaclugna (Begley 1906, 113). In 1840 the Ordnance Survey recorded that the ‘The ruins of the old Church are in tolerable preservation and situated on level ground in the Townland of Cappa. This building is fifty three feet [16.15m] in length and fourteen feet[4.25m] in breadth. The east gable contains a window of considerable size, which is semi-circular at top on the inside, constructed of chiselled stones and measuring ten feet [3m] in height and four feet six inches [1.37m] in width. On the outside it is pointed, constructed of chiselled lime stones and measures four feet nine inches [1.44m] in height and one foot six inches [0.45m] in width. It is six feet [1.8m] from the present level of the ground and divided into two parts (lights). At the distance of three feet, three inches [1m] from the east gable there is on the south wall a window whose head on the inside is a flat arch and which measures five feet [1.5m] in height and three feet [0.9m] in width. On the outside it is pointed and measures three feet six and a half inches [2m] in height and only six inches [0.15m] in width. At the distance of thirteen feet [14m] from this window the same wall contains another window of the same form and dimensions.
At the distance of fifteen feet six inches [4.7m] from the west gable the same (south) wall contains the doorway which is flat arched at top on the inside and pointed on the outside; on the inside it is seven feet nine inches [2.36m] in height; and three feet ten inches [1.16m] in width and on the outside six feet three inches [1.9m] in height and three feet three inches [1m] in width. Between this doorway and the west gable and at the distance of three feet two inches [0.95m] from the south west corner, there are two quadrangular windows of the same size, one over the other, the lower being four feet six inches [1.37m] from the present level of the ground and the other two feet six inches [0.76m] over the first. They measure on the inside three feet four inches [1m] by two feet seven inches [0.78m] and on the outside one foot seven inches [0.48m] in height and six inches [0.15m] in width and are constructed of cut lime stone.
The west gable is surmounted by a small belfry consisting of one semicircular arch, constructed of cut lime stone This gable also contains a window placed at the height of eight feet [2.4m] from the ground and measuring on the inside about six feet [1.8m] in height and three feet six inches in width and on the outside, where it is pointed and constructed of chiselled limestone, three feet six inches [1m] in height and five inches [0.12m] in width. The north wall is featureless.
The side walls of this Church are about fifteen feet [4.5m] in height (of which three feet [0.9m] is a parapet) and two feet ten inches [0.86m] in thickness and all well built of hammered stones cemented with lime and sand mortar. There is a large grave yard attached to this Church but it is not now much used as a cemetery’ (OSL, 134-5).

Westropp (1904-5, 412-3) gives the following details on Cappagh; 'A parish in Connelloe Lower. Kilmacluana, 1201; Kilmaclon, 1291, destroyed by war, 1302; Cappagh Kilmacluana, 1336 (rental); Keappagh and Kyapagh-ydaly, 1400; Ceapagh, or Keilnaceappug, or Triostane, 1410; Kylmeeluana, 1418. Grant by the Knight of the Valley off Cappagh Kilmclwony to Friars of Askeaton, 1541 (B.B.L.,p. 144); Cappagh in good condition, 1615b, not Clonagh, as by Dr. Reeves (MSS. 1063, T.C.D.). Ceapach, tilled plot ' (O'Donovan). Fabric - The church lies not far from the very picturesque castle. It is 53 feet [16.15m] by 14 [4.25m] feet. The east window is large, with two pointed lights, and round-headed splay arch. The south is pointed, with a flat splay head; and the south door is pointed. The west gable has a round-headed ope; walls 15 feet [4.57m] by 2 feet 10 inches [0.86m], with parapets (O.S.L., 9, p. 439)'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 10 December 2018

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

References

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

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.

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