Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on high ground with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. O'Hurley's Castle (LI041-004005-) located 60m to NNE and holy wells (LI041-004006/007) 150m to NE. Only the grass-covered wall footings of the medieval church are now visible in NE quadrant of graveyard with architectural fragments of the church reused as grave-markers throughout the graveyard. Church ruins described in 1840 as following; 'The old Church on this hill is a very rude one and all its architectural features are destroyed with the exception of one quadrangular little window placed on the north wall close to the east gable. It is wide inside and measures two feet four inches [0.7m] by seven inches [0.17m] outside, where it is six feet eight inches [2m] from the ground. The east gable is nearly destroyed and there is a large breach in the south side where the doorway was placed and another nearly opposite it in the north side wall. The lower part of the north wall is built of very large stones up to the height of four feet [1.2m] but from that up is of much smaller ones. This Church measures in length forty five feet [13.7m] and in breadth twenty two feet [6.7m] inside; its wall are four feet [1.2m] thick, built of lime stones cemented with good lime and sand mortar and their greatest height is at present nine a half feet [2.8m] inside and twelve feet [3.65m] outside' (OSKL Knocklong Parish).
Westropp (1904-5, 451) recorded the following details about Knocklong; 'A parish in Coshlea. It is called Cnoc Loinge, Hill of the Camp, and Druim Damhghaire in the Book of Lismore, being the traditional scene of the battle (A.D. 250), when the Ardrigh Cormac mac Airt endeavoured to tax Munster. Loinge, 1568 and 1578 (Fiants, 1258 and 3250); Knocknelongie, 1584 (Desmond Roll), Long, 1657, with sketch of the castle (D.S. (A.), 55).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 17 June 2019

See attached ASI aerial photographs ASIAP – 343/14 and 16 on 05/01/2003.

References

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

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.