Chapel

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on elevated pasture with good views in all directions. Possible ringwork (LI049-063004-) annotated 'Duntryleague' on OS 6-inch map in field immediately to NE. St. Patrick's holy well 330m to S. No surface remains visible of medieval chapel in Duntryleague graveyard (LI049-063003-), W belltower of post-1700 C of I church in W quadrant of graveyard with Massy family mausoleum in S quadrant of graveyard. An inquisition into the lands of Christopher de Bermingham undertaken on the 15 November 1346 at Galbally recorded that the chapel of Dundirleleke [Duntryleague] was one of four chapels belonging to the parish church of Narlac [Galbally] (LI049-086002-) (Mills & McEnery 1916, 117). This chapel is depicted on the 17th century Down Survey map of the Barony of Coshlea where it is shown in the vicinity of the present Duntryleague graveyard (NLI MS 718).
Westropp (1904-5, 452) recorded the following details about Duntryleague; 'The fort [LI049-063004-] appears in the oldest records as Duntrileag, because three pillars surrounded the well in it. "The Colloquy" in the Book of Lismore ("Silva Gadelica", ii.,p. 129) mentions this legend, and calls it Dun tri liag, or Dun ar sleibh (see Joyce, "Irish Names of Places," i., p. 253). See also Dundirleke chapel, 1346 ("Gormanstown Register," p. 145d); Dontrileg and Dontrylege, 1615; Downtrilege (D.S.(A.), 52.
Site - The graveyard [LI049-063003-] exists near the ancient dun, and contains a large vault of the Massys. The well [LI049-063005-] is of St. Patrick'.

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 26 June 2019

References

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

Mills, J. and McEnery, M. J. (eds.) 1916 Calendar of the Gormanston Register. Dublin. University Press for the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.

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.