Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Within N-side of a graveyard (LI023-098002-) that is covered by vegetation. Site of church is now a slightly higher area of stony ground. This was parish church of Rathjordan (Westropp 1904-5, 443). Holy well (LI023-108----) c. 200m to WSW.
Site of levelled church described in 1840 as 'scarcely a stone of the foundation can now be traced' (OSL). The church site is described in the Ordnance Survey Name Books as 'a small ruin in its centre, nearly level with the ground' (OSNB 1840, 1440). Westropp (1904-5, 443) recorded the following details on Rathjordan; ‘Rathjordan, in Wethney and Natherlach deaneries, 1302; Rathjourdan, in Kylkyllane parish, 1586 (Peyton, p. 27); Rathsherdan, in Owney deanery, 1615 a, or Caherkynlis deanery, 1615 b (Map, 1657, D.S. (A), 21); Site - The building levelled; the Well of St. John the Baptist, Tober Eoin Baiste, near it'.

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 04 January 2019

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.

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.