Chapel in Culliaghy

On low, level ground c. 70m from the N shore of a bay on the N shore of Lough Ree. Traditionally an early church was founded here by St Faithlec, the founder of Cloontuskert (RO037-001001-) c. 3 km to the NNE, but the references are obscure. A chapel, described by J. O'Donovan in the 1830s as ruinous (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 48), is marked on the 1837 ed. of the OS 6-inch map. This was built as a Roman Catholic church in the 1760s, adjacent to the Lanesboro to Roscommon road (N63) that was first built in 1765, and the church continued in use until the 1830s when it was replaced by the present church in Ballyleague in 1860 (Murphy 2003, 28). This is a rectangular overgrown area (int. dims 15.7m E-W; 6m N-S) defined by low earth and stone banks (Wth 0.7-1m; H 0.2-0.6m), which might be divided into two rooms by the remnants of a stone wall (E room: int. dims. 4.5m). There is no evidence of a doorway or of burial in the vicinity. St. Faithlec's Well (RO036-048002-), c. 30m to the SW, is rectangular (int. dims 1.1m N-S; 1m E-W; D 1m) and defined by a low masonry wall (Wth 0.2-0.45m; H 0.3-4m). The well is still venerated, and is open to the S where there is a small paved area (dims 1.5m E-W; 0.9m N-S). A stream runs S to the lake, and a stile provides access from the road c. 30m to the N. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010