Chapel

The National Monuments Service's description

Kilcumreragh Church (WM031-079----) is depicted on the 1653-9 Down Survey map of Moycashell Barony (NLI, MS 723-4) as a rectangular building with residential or bell-tower at E end. On this map the church stands on the lands of Thomas Geoghegan who is described as an ‘Irish Papist’ and owner of 271 acres of land in ‘Killcrumriagh’.
Situated atop low hillock in undulating countryside with post-1700 corn mill of Ballynabarna 110m to NNE and mill race or stream 70m to E. On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map the glebe land belonging to the church is depicted immediately W of the graveyard and the boundary of the glebe is shown as a dotted outline in the same manner as the graveyard. The ivy covered church is depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a rectangular building with mortuary chapel at E end of S wall of church. A second mortuary chapel (WM031-079003-) aligned NE-SW is depicted standing a few metres W of the church.
Described in 1983 as a small mortuary chapel belonging to the Geoghegan family that was built onto the S wall of the church located off centre to E measures 6m north-south by 5m east-west. The N wall of the chapel forms the S wall of the medieval church. It is badly overgrown with nettles weeds etc. making detailed examination impossible. The remains of a possible window are visible in the centre of the S wall. This is composed of two cut stone slabs and a round-headed top. The wall on either side of it is broken and crudely built and the window appears to have been inserted. It was probably taken from the church inserted into the fabric of the chapel. It measures circa 50cm high by 40cm wide. The wall of the chapel stands circa 2 metres high and it is built of rubble. In the centre of the E wall there is a round-headed doorway which is damaged on the outside. There is a well-preserved stone built arch on the inside. This doorway may have been a later insertion. To S of this doorway internally on E wall there is a graveslab incorporated into the wall. An inscription on this slab reads; ‘Here lies the body of the late Doctor Owen Geoghegan who departed this life 26th May 1778 age 72. May the Lord have mercy on his soul and on the souls of his family who are also interred here'. The N wall of the chapel forms the S wall of the medieval church, it stands circa 5m high at the centre.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 10 January 2018