Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on rising ground with commanding views to the W, N and E. Ruins of Lackan medieval nave and chancel church the N wall of which forms N boundary of the rectangular-shaped graveyard (WM006-037001-). Medieval church built on site of Early Christian monastery of Lecan-Midhe mentioned in 750 when the Annals of Ulster recorded the death of ‘Fursu [Fursa], abbot of Lecan Midhe’ (AU, 215). According to O’Donovan the monastery was founded by St. Cruimín whose feastday was celebrated here on June 28th (AFM, 349). According to the Martyrology of Tallaght a second feastday to St. Cruimín (Croimín) fell on the 29th of December (Ó Riain 2011, 237). During the reign of Edward I. (1272-1307) Adam de Ledwyche [Ledwith] granted the Abbey of Tristernagh (WM011-053----) ‘the church of Lekkyn [Lackan]’ (Cogan 1870, 605).
Present remains consist of the ivy-covered S wall (L 8.6m; H c. 3.6m) of a poorly preserved nave (int. dims. N-S c. 6.3m; wall T 0.95m; H c. 3.6m) and a short section of the S wall (L 3.5m) of the chancel (int. dims. 4.7m N-S). The E and W walls of the church no longer survive and it is not possible to make out the line of either gable wall. The N wall of the church may now form part of the N wall of the graveyard boundary. The S wall of the church is covered in ivy making detailed examination impossible. The church is entered through a flat-headed doorway (Wth 1m; H 1.3m) in the S wall which is set into a round-arched embrasure. The lintel of this doorway consists of an Early Christian cross-slab (WM006-037003-) that has been reused to form lintel of church doorway. This lintel may have been inserted into the church doorway in the post-medieval period. A single-light ogee-headed window (Wth 0.3m; H 1.05m) is located 2m to E of doorway in S wall. The low N wall of the church now forms the graveyard boundary wall and is covered in brambles making examination impossible. The W end of the church is covered in trees and was not accessible at time of inspection. The E end of the church is also covered in trees. The chancel of the church may have been converted into a private burial are of the Ledwith family in the 19th century. A headstone to Andrew Ledwith of Streamstown is present inside the chancel area. The dividing wall between nave and chancel is now blocked up.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 5 August 2015

References

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

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

AFM - Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. John O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint New York, 1966)

AU (1983) - The Annals of Ulster to 1311, ed. S. Mac Airt and G. Mac Niocaill (Dublin 1983)