Abbey (in Ruins)

Near the S end of a ridge overlooking low-lying ground; in the centre of Carrowntemple graveyard (SL044-056002-) and within an ecclesiastical enclosure (SL044-056006-). All that remains standing of the church is its SE corner (ext. c. 6.3m E-W; c. 1.8m N-S; H c. 3m; wall T c. 0.65m). This is built of uncoursed limestone in a lime mortar, and is now heavily encased by ivy. The only evident feature is the splayed side of the E window, where the E wall now breaks off. The interior is filled with grave-plots, marked by low uninscribed stones and by 20th-century headstones. Probably the remains of the medieval parish church of Kilfree (O'Rorke [1889], vol. 2, 363-4). Thirteen cross-slabs (SL044-056004-) and a slab rough-out were found in the graveyard, mainly to the E and S of the church. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008