Church in Gort

In an area of flat but rough pastureland near the N limits of Gort town. In 1600 during the course of a vicious assault on Dermot O'Connor by 'Theobald Burke (Teboid na Loing), son of the celebrated Grace O'Malley, O'Connor and a number of his men were obliged to seek sanctuary in an adjoining church. But Burke refused to recognise the right of sanctuary and set the church on fire. About 40 of O'Connor's men either lost their lives in the flames or were killed as they attempted to escape (Fahey 1893, 234-5). According to Fahey (ibid.), the church referred to ‘probably stood on the north side of the present town, at the place known as the “Grove”’. In the early 1840s the land owner came across large quantities of human remains from a pit or cave beside the church. The church was 'barely traceable' in Fahy's time (ibid.). The area marked 'The Grove' on the OS 6-inch maps was field-walked but no visible surface trace of the church was evident and it could not be precisely located. A housing estate and commercial units now occupy this area. Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 19 February 2020