Ardcarn Ch.

The site of the parish church of Ardcarn, listed as Ardcarna in the Papal taxation of 1306 (Cal. Doc. Ire., vol. 5, 224), on the site of an early church (RO006-103002-). Situated on the NE-facing slope of a Ardcarn Hill. Rectangular graveyard (RO006-103004-) (dims 85m E-W; 60m N-S) defined by a mortared stone wall. The sandstone jamb of a medieval doorway is used as a headstone, and a limestone armorial plaque (RO06-103005-) erected by Cormac MacDermot, possibly a son of Owen Mac Conor Og of Aghacarra (Mulhall 1907-09; Mac Dermot 1996, 360), in honour of his wife Elinor Crean in 1688 is situated just E of the present Church of Ireland church in the graveyard. It consists of a crucifixion over the crests of both families and a largely illegible inscription, all within a raised border (Wth 1.4m; H 1.95m). A cross-inscribed stone (RO006-103019-) is just S of the E end of the present church which was damaged in a fire in 1858 and re-dedicated in 1860. The site is within an extensive deserted settlement (RO006-103007-). (Weld 1832, 245-6; O'Flanagan 1931, 90-91; D'Alton 1845, 93-6; Gwynn and Hadcock 1988, 29) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010 Amended: 17 April, 2014

Ardcarn Church, mentioned as Ardcarna in the Papal taxation of 1306, was likely built on the site of an earlier medieval church; its exact builder is unknown, but it reflects the ecclesiastical development of the region during the late medieval period.