Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Located towards the top of the E facing slope of a drumlin. The church is marked on the Down Survey (1656-8) barony map of Slane, and in the later middle ages it was probably a chapel of ease in Drumcondra parish, although it is not listed in the visitations of Ussher (1622) (Erlington 1847-64, 1, xci-xcvii) or Dopping (1682-5) (Ellison 1973, 4-7). Cogan (1862-70, 2, 295) regards it as an ancient site dedicated to St. Bridget. Only the E gable and part of the N (L 5.9m) and S (L 8.2m) walls of a rectangular structure (max. dims 8.2m E-W; 6m N-S) survive, largely reduced to the foundations. The E gable has a complete round headed window (Wth 0.1m; H 0.33m) in a round headed embrasure (Wth 0.75m; H 1.53m) and is probably of 12th century date. The church is within a rectangular graveyard (dims c. 40m WNW-ESE; c. 32m NNE-SSW) defined by earthen banks with burials dating from c. 1780 to c. 1960. The motte (ME003-010----) is c. 30m to the E.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revision: 10 December, 2014

References

Erlington, C. R. (ed.) 1847-64 The whole works of the most Reverend James Ussher. 17 vols. Hodges and Smith, Dublin

Cogan, Rev. A. 1862-70 Ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Meath: ancient and modern. (3 vols) Dublin: John Fowler, Joseph Dollard

Ellison, Rev. C. C. 1971-5 Bishop Dopping's Visitation Book 1682-5, Ríocht na Mídhe, 5, 1, 28-39; 5, 2, 3-13; 5, 3, 3-11; 5, 4, 98-103; 6, 1, 3-13.