Church in Fahy

Located in a low-lying position at the E shore of Lough Allen. Local tradition maintains that St Beo Aodh or Beoaidh of Ardcarn, Co Roscommon (RO006-103002-), built a wooden church here where there was snow on the ground as he had been inspired to do (Faughnan 1943). The townland of Cleighrans Beg is thought to have been churchland and local Franciscans may have used it during the penal times (Ford and Clancy 1980, 6). An area in the vicinity is described as churchland on the Down Survey (1656-8) map of Drumaheir barony (see this web-page: http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/). The church may have been founded to provide an alternative to the church and graveyard on Inishmagrath Island (LE018-037001-) at the NE corner of Lough Allen, or it may be the site of the medieval parish church of the detached portion of Drumreilly parish on the west side of Slieve Anieran. A ruined church called 'Cill Voy' and a graveyard are depicted on Larkin's map (1818) of Co. Leitrim. A rectangular graveyard (dims. 38m N-S; 27m E-W) containing 19th- and 20th-century graves, the earliest being 1798, is enclosed by masonry walls, but there is no evidence of a church. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008

A wooden church was built at Fahy by St Beo Aodh (or Beoaidh) of Ardcarn, traditionally dated to the early medieval period, likely 7th to 9th century; its location on the eastern shore of Lough Allen and association with a local saint highlight its possible ecclesiastical and cultural significance in the region.