Aglish Church (in Ruins)

On flat pasture with good views in all directions, a nearby ringfort (TS043-031----) is located 430m to the SE. At the W end of a slightly raised circular graveyard (TS43-030002-) there are possible low wall-footings (H 0.3m; wall T 0.46m) of the SW gable of a church (ext. dims. E-W 6.2m; N-S 1.3m) aligned SW-NE, which appears to have been rebuilt by a community or local scheme. There are no other wall-footings visible. It is not clear whether the moated enclosure (TS43-030002-) around the graveyard is contemporary or pre-dates the church and graveyard. Kilcooly Abbey demesne wall is located to the W and NW of the graveyard. Healy (1874-9, vol. 1, 49-50) describes Shan Aglish church as being built on a moat forty yards (c. 36.6m) in diameter, with the foundations of the church, 51 feet long (14.7m) and 21 feet wide (6.8m), being barely visible. The church, aligned NW-SE, was entered on the S side, facing Kilcooly Abbey (Healy 1874-9, vol.1, 49-50). According to Healy (ibdi.) there is no holy well associated with this church, but McCormack (1989, 13) mentions a well beside the graveyard, now dry, which is known locally as Simon's Well. Beside the well there are two slabs, one of which bears a late 18th century inscription (McCormack 1989, 13). This church may be the rectory of Grange of Heishe which, during the reign of Henry VIII, was appropriated to the Abbot of Kilcooly, as mentioned in Archdall's Monasticon Hibernicum, taken from an Inquisition at Kilcooly in 1530 (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 158). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011