Church

The National Monuments Service's description

This ruined medieval church consists of a rectangular building (ext. 7.97m N−S; 17.5m E−W) constructed of local limestone. The S wall (H 4.5m) and most of the E gable are intact. Only the S end of the W wall and the E end of the N wall survive. There is a doorway towards the W end of the S wall. It is bluntly pointed and chamfered externally, and internally, has a flat segmental arch beneath a pointed relieving arch. There is a draw-bar hole in the plainly chamfered E jamb. An excavation in 1988 found that this doorway appears to date to the 14th century, but was modified in the 15th or early 16th century (Higgins 1989, 30). There is a tall, narrow window, widely splayed internally in the E gable, the head of which has collapsed. Towards the E end of the S wall, there is a narrow single light round-headed window. The 1988 excavation also revealed that the foundation plinth had two phases, and a bullaun stone (MA123-060007-) was found built into the upper level of the plinth on the west side of the church (Higgins 1989, 29). The church is built in the native tradition, but is difficult to date; it may be 12th century in date. (Manning 1987, 43-45).

Compiled by: Jane O’ Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 3 August 2017

References

Manning, C. 1987 Excavation at Moyne Graveyard, Shrule, Co. Mayo. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 87C, no. 3, 37-70.

Higgins, J. 1989 'Moyne church', Moyne, Mayo. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1988. Summary accounts of archaeological excavation in Ireland, Bray, Wordwell. 29-30, no. 48.