Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The parish church of Kilmaine, listed as Kilmedan in the ecclesiastical taxation of Elphin in 1306 (Cal. doc. Ire., vol. 5, 224). Situated towards the top of a NW-facing slope. This is a rectangular structure (ext. dims 15.45m E-W; 7.9m N-S), which was revamped and may have been used into the 19th century, with the walls surviving complete. There is a modern doorway in the W gable with modern windows in the E and S walls, but blocked doorways towards the W and E ends of the N wall are original as well as the E ingoing of the S window. A Crofton mausoleum is attached to the E end of the S wall, and another structure was attached to the SW angle, represented by a wall-footing.
The church is within a rectangular graveyard (RO042-016002-) (dims c. 60m N-S; c. 35m E-W) defined by drystone walls which contains a headstone (RO042-016008-) commemorating Cate Quin, dated 1698. The graveyard is within a circular ecclesiastical enclosure (RO042-016007-) (diam. c. 80m) planted with deciduous trees and defined by a drystone wall with a scarp at N and E. Outside the enclosure to the SE is a wayside cross (RO042-016005-) (dims 0.21m x 0.21m; H 1.34m) with the name 'Edm Kely' and the date 1633 (Siggins 1986b, 34), although the date has been read as 1639 (Anon. 1888-91). The base (RO042-016006-) of a second cross is nearby.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 28th September, 2010

References

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

Siggins, A. 1986b Some late medieval crosses in county Roscommon. Journal of the County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society 1, 33-5.

Anon. 1888-91 Church of Kilmaine. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland. Vol. 1, 485.