Aghclare Church

Listed as Athblor in the ecclesiastical taxation of Elphin in 1304-06 (Cal. doc. Ire., vol. 5, 223), it might once have been an independent parish but is now in the parish of Cloonygormican. The present remains were built c. 1720 by Charles Hawkes of Briarfiled (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 44) as a chapel-of-ease and it was still in use in the 1830s (1837 ed. of the OS 6 inch map). It is situated on a level landscape c. 400m NE of the E end of Lough Shad. The present remains consist of a rectangular structure (ext. dims 18.1m E-W; 7.3m N-S) surviving complete (H c. 3m), except the N wall (T 0.65m), with two large blocked window embrasures in the S wall and a round headed window (Wth c. 1m; H c. 3m) in the E wall. There is a lintelled doorway (Wth 1.06m; H 2.05m) in the W wall. It is within a rectangular graveyard (RO028-181002-) (dims 42m E-W; 40m N-S) defined by masonry walls, with grave markers and two early 19th century altar tombs but no headstones. There is no evidence of an older structure. The SW corner of the graveyard truncates the perimeter of rath (RO028-180003-) at NE, and St. Columcille's Well (RO028-180001-) is c. 140m to the N. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010