Church (in Ruins)

In pasture, on the SE-facing slope of a drumlin and c. 50m NW of a crossroads; in the N half of the older part of Drumrat graveyard (SL039-074002-) and within a possible ecclesiastical enclosure (SL039-0740010-). The outline of a rectangular church (int. c. 9.5m E-W; 5.5m N-S) is evident as grass-covered wall foundations (T c. 0.85m) on the N, E and much of the S sides. The centre of the S wall survives to a height of c. 2m and is built of rough blocks of limestone bonded with lime mortar. There are a number of grave-plots in the interior. Four cross-inscribed slabs (SL039-074006-; SL039-074011-; SL039-074012-; SL039-074013-) were located to the SE and S of the church. A fragment of a horizontal millstone (SL039-074007-) is embedded in a tomb adjacent to the external S wall. According to local tradition, this is the site of a church founded by St Feichin (OSL, 146) but the present ruin is probably that of the medieval parish church of Drumrat. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008