Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Kilcullane church ruins stands on N side of graveyard (LI032-076002-) with Kilcullane Castle (LI033-077----) and River Camoge 110m to E. Nave and chancel church ruins described in 1840 as following; ‘The old Church of this Parish is situated in a small graveyard not much used and on level ground in the Townland of Kilkillaun, about three hundred yards west of the River Camog. It consists of a nave and choir. The east gable of the choir is now reduced to the height of four feet [1.2m]; this choir is eighteen and a half feet [5.7m] long by twelve feet ten inches [3.9m]. On its south wall three and a half feet [1m] from the east gable there was a window which is now entirely disfigured. The choir arch, which is eleven and a half feet [3.5m] high by seven feet ten inches [2.4m], is in the pointed style and formed of brown cut stone. The nave is thirty three feet [10m] long by twenty feet two inches [6m]. Of its south wall nine and a half feet [2.8m] in length adjoining the west gable and three feet [0.9m] adioining the middle gable, remain; the rest of the wall is destroyed to the foundation. There were two windows, one on each of the side walls of the nave near the middle gable but they are now totally disfigured. The doorway must have been on that portion of the south wall which is destroyed. There was a window on the west gable which has completely lost its form. The walls are about ten feet [3m] high, three feet [0.9m] in thickness and built of regular sized lime stones cemented with lime and sand mortar’ (OSL, 44).
Westropp (1904-5, 447) recorded the following details about Kilcullane Church; 'A parish."Magnahengi, from the ford of Scivil towards to the east, with the whole marsh to Kilkilin and Kealkillin itself," 1185 (Charter of Magio); Kilcallane, 1578 (Fiants, 3250); Kylkyllane, 1586 (Peyton, p. 27); grant of Kilkellan to Edward Browne, 1607 (Patent R.); Cillcaclain, Cathlan's Church, locally Kilkillaun (O'Donovan). Fabric - It has a nave and chancel, 33 feet [10m] by 20 feet [6m], and 18½ feet [5.7m] by 12 feet 10 inches [3.9m]; walls, 10 feet [3m] by 3 feet [0.9m]; east end down; all features defaced; choir arch pointed, 11½ feet [3.5m] high, 7 feet 10 inches [2.4m] wide, (O.S.L., 8, p. 68). It is shown with one gable and roofless, 1657 (D.S.A., 38 ; Petty, 68)'.
Kilcullane church and castle (LI032-077----) depicted standing beside each other on the 1654-7 Down Survey map of Kilcullane Parish (NLI, MS 718).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 26 April 2019

References

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.

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.