Church

The National Monuments Service's description

No surface remains visible of a church or of any cut stones in the outhouses of the farmhouse located 90m to the W. Site of Corbally Chapel located E of Lackelly Rock (LI041-022----) described by Lynch (1920, 100-2) as following; 'The taxation of Pope Nicholas (1291) for the Diocese of Emly includes the "Chapel of Corbally". From this and other records it is clear that in former times Corbally was a well-defined area, extensive enough to justify the description "Oenach Culi in Corballi'. These townlands [Lackelly East/West] formed part of an older Corballi, and Lackelly was the name given to the stone or rock (LI041-022----) mentioned in the legend of the birth of St. Ailbhe. The local tradition is that St. Ailbhe was born at this rock, or under this stone, it is not very clear; but old people were in the habit of visiting the rock and reciting prayers on the 12th of September, the feast of St. Ailbhe, up to forty years ago, and the water which lay in some natural cavities of the rock, was used as a cure. Mr. Healy informed me that in the field where the stone lay human remains (skulls, &c.) had been found many years ago, and that it is believed to have been an ancient cemetery (LI041-020----). Close to the rock on the S. E. in a field at the entrance to Mr. Kincaid's farm the remains of an old church stood some years ago. No portion of it is now to be seen there, but I was shown the moulded stones of the doors and windows built into the openings of the out-offices on the farm. The farm offices were probably built with the remains of the old church. This was probably the "Chapel of Corbally," before referred to, as included in the taxation of Pope Nicholas, and held by the Hospitallers of Aney. As an ancient centre of devotion, and no doubt a source of revenue, it is natural to suppose that a chapel would be maintained here. This church stood just on the boundary line of the present parish of Ballyscadden, and may have been the site of the ancient church of Kilrath mentioned in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, which was close to the fort of Coirpre and Brocan. On the Down Survey map of Coshlea, Rathgullane evidently a monumental rath is marked close to this in Ballyscadden parish'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 17 June 2019

References

Lynch, P.J. 1920 Topographical notes on the barony of Coshlea, Co. Limerick. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 50, 99-127, 342-6.