Abbey in Cloondara

On low-lying ground, c. 100m to the NW of the junction between the Camlin River and the Royal Canal at Richmond Harbour. In 1323 the annals recorded the death of Gilla-airnin O'Casey, Erenagh of Cluain-da-rath (AFM vol. 3, 529) and in 1610 James Ware received a land grant including the 'termon-irinagh or corbie in Clondoragh' (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 177). Remains comprise a medieval church and graveyard (LF013-018004-), two medieval cross-slabs (LF013-018002-, LF013-018003-) and a bullaun stone (LF013-018001-). Two construction phases are evident in the church (ext. dims. 17.4m E-W; 8.5m N-S; wall T 0.9m). The first phase, dating to the early medieval period, is distinguished by large well-coursed cyclopean masonry, similar in style to the churches of Ardagh (LF019-051001-) and Agharra (LF024-007001-). A plinth (Wth 0.19m; H 0.18m) is visible at the base of the walls and circular millstones protrude beyond the NE and SE angles. The millstone on the NE angle appears to be the top stone (diam. 0.75m; T 0.15m), while that at the SE angle, which has a very smooth surface, seems to be the accompanying bedstone (diam. 0.75m; T 0.15m). The millstones may be from an early mill that was located in the vicinity on the banks of the Camlin River. A 19th-century corn mill is located c. 80m to the S. The second phase of construction is marked by the subdivision of the W end of the church and the insertion of a two-storey, barrel-vaulted priest’s living quarters. It dates to the late medieval period. The dividing wall (T 0.7m) is not bonded into the S wall of the church. A doorway in its N half accessed the ground floor (int. dims. 5.4m N-S; 3.1m E-W) of the living quarters and another doorway to its N accessed a mural stairway that led to the 1st floor. A large aumbry is visible in the NW angle. A small square-headed fireplace was built against the S wall; the chimney breast is not bonded into it. Possible remains of a window ope are evident at first-floor level in the W gable. During this construction phase a pointed doorway (Wth 2m) was inserted into the N wall, to the E of the dividing wall, to access the main body of the church. An early medieval single-light round-headed window with an external rebated surround was incorporated into the fabric of the wall. Other architectural features include an ivy-covered, single-light, round-headed window in the centre of the E gable and a window in the E end of the S wall that has been rebuilt. Internally a small aumbry is visible beneath the window in the S wall. Directly opposite in the N wall there is a larger, ivy-covered aumbry. The insertion of the priest’s living quarters reduced the internal length of the church (int. dims. 11.5m E-W; 6.7m N-S). (Gray 1940, 29, 32; 1943, 22-4, 26; ITA Survey 1944; Fanning and Ó hÉailidhe 1980, 16, fig. 4) Compiled by: Patrick F. O'Donovan, Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 4 June 2013