Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Tullabracky Church ruins stands in NW quadrant of graveyard (LI031-077002-) with holy well (LI031-079----) and Tullabracky Castle (LI031-078----) 180m to S.
Tullabracky Church ruins described in 1840 as following; ‘Of the old Church of this Parish, situated on rising ground in the Townland of Tullabracky Bishopland, the east gable is level with the ground with the exception of a very small portion adjoining the south side wall. The upper portion of the west gable is very much injured. The south wall remains with the exception of two breaches, of which hereafter. There are only two small portions of the north wall remaining, the one adjoining the west gable, the other about (near) the middle of the wall. This Church was forty three and a half feet [13.2m] long by twenty one and a half feet [6.5m] in breadth. On the south side wall, about five feet [1.5m] from the east, there is a breach of about five feet [1.5m] (in width) extending to within three and a half feet [1m] of the ground. The western side of this breach presents the appearance of that of a window, widening on the inside. On the same wall, ten feet [3m] from the west gable, there is a large breach extending to the ground, evidently where the doorway was placed. The south west corner is destroyed. On the upper part of the portion of the west gable which remains there is a breach which may have been a window, now disfigured. The north side wall is featureless. The walls of this Church are about nine feet [2.7m] high and two feet seven inches [0.8m] in thickness. There is a large burial ground still used attached to this Church’ (OSL vol. 2, 33-4) .
Westropp (1904-5, 433) recorded the following details on Tullabracky; ‘A parish and prebend in Coshmagh and Small County. Tullachbracc, 1185 (charter of Magio); also 1201. Tholabreg, 1302; Tillabreaka dedicated to St. Molon, May 5th, 1410. Quit claim to Tulachbrec, 1276 (B.B.L., p. 91); Ger. Fanyn to present a fit "person" to church, 1317 (Mem. R.). In 1346 John de Bosworth was parson and prebend. John Eyterward succeeded, 1389 (Pat. R.), Tillaghbrek, 1405 (Cal. Papal L., vi., pp. 35, 84, 460); Tillabreaka, 1410. Tulla braice, in Bishopsland (O'Donovan), D.S. (A), 47. Fabric - It is 43½ feet [13.25m] by 21½ feet [6.5m]. West end and parts of sides stood, 1840. It was nearly levelled in 1901. Tober Mullana, or "Blunny's Well' lies near it. The modern I.C. church was built, 1819'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 08 March 2019

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.