Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The parish church of Killukan is listed as Kilankyn in the ecclesiastical taxation of Elphin in 1306 (Cal. doc. Ire., vol. 5, 224). It was in ruins in 1615 when the present structure may have been built and it continued as a Church of Ireland church into the 19th century (D'Alton 1845, 91-2). The list of clergy from 1615-1825 survives (Keenehan 2006b, 91).
The church is situated on a terrace above the NW bank of the SW-NE Killukin River. It is a rectangular structure (int. dims 18.33m ENE-WSW; 6.15m NNW-SSE) whose walls (Wth 0.68m; H 1.5m) are built of coursed mortared limestone masonry. There is a doorway (Wth 1.14m) in the W wall, but no other features are evident and it probably dates from the eighteenth century. It is within a rectangular graveyard (RO011-047002-) (dims 46m NNW-SSE, 36m ENE-WSW) defined by masonry walls.
The graveyard is within a possible D-shaped ecclesiastical enclosure (dims c. 160m WNW-ESE; c. 180m plus NNE-SSW) defined by the line of the original Carrrick-on-Shannon to Elphin road (R368) that curves W of the graveyard and is c. 100m from it SW-NW. This perimeter can be shown to continue S-SW as a feature visible on LiDAR imagery, and this section was confirmed by two remote sensing techniques that identify it as a likely stone-filled ditch (Curran 2016, 9). However, evidence of the line of this enclosure where it would return to the Killukin River NW-NE of the church was not recorded because of extensive disturbance in that area (Curran 2018, 6-8). Evidence of an oval ditched enclosure (dims c. 40m NE-SW; c. 25m NW-SE) recorded in positive magnetometry readings just N of the graveyard was also recovered and may represent an inner sanctum of the early church (Curran 2016, 9). Tober Chonaolanaigh or Connellan's Well (RO011-045----) is c.500m to the SSW. (Keenehan 2006b)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of revised upload: 8 June 2018

References

Keenehan, J. 2006b Killukin. In Keenehan, J. (ed.), St Michael's Church Drumlion, Co. Roscommon 1856-2006, 87-93. Carrick-on-Shannon. Drumlion Sesquincentenial Committee.

D'Alton, J. 1845 The history of Ireland: from the earliest period to the year 1245. 2 vol. Dublin, Author.

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).

Curran, S. 2018 Geophysical survey report: Killukin, Co. Roscommon. RMP: RO011-047001-/02-; Licence No.: 17R0159. Unpublished report, Author

Curran, S. 2016 Geophysical survey report: Killukin, Co. Roscommon. RMP: RO011-047001-/02-; Licence No.: 16R0121. Unpublished report, Author