What is recorded here
Just 4m N of the Cathedral (CL067-024008-) on Scattery Island and on the same alignment is a small Romanesque nave and chancel church (max. ext. dims. 12.04m E-W; 5.44m N-S). The church fits into the angle created by the NW angle of the cathedral sacristy. Sadly its decorative features have been reduced to the foundations or entirely removed. The walls of the nave (int. dims. 6.54m E-W; 3.86m N-S) are reduced to c. 2m high, but the doorway (Wth 0.92m) in the S wall (T 0.82m) is almost entirely removed, except for the basal stones. It is interesting to note that this doorway is towards the E end of the wall, rather than the W. There is a single inserted light (Wth 0.28m; H 0.66m) in the W wall. The chancel (int. dims. 2.4m N-S; 2.73m E-W) has a small altar against the E wall (L 1.7m; D 0.9m; H 0.5m). The chancel arch is reduced to the basal stones. It had four orders, creating arches decreasing in width towards the chancel (Wth 2.51m; 2.14; 1.82m; 1.53m). The voussoirs were decorated with chevrons. Only the outermost order projected into the nave. The outer and innermost orders are three-quarter attached pillars with mouldings between them, while the other two are just half pillars. The S pier is better preserved, but the church walls are badly conserved here so that the SE corner of the nave forms an obtuse angle. See Ní Ghrádaigh (2006) for a discussion on the Romanesque fragments. (Westropp 1897, 284; 1900-02, 170; Ní Ghrádaigh 2006, 26-30)This is a national monument in state care, no. 10.
Compiled by: Mary Tunney
Date of upload: 12 September 2016
This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 1/1971).
A small Romanesque nave and chancel church, built in the 12th century, dedicated to an unknown saint, and aligned with the cathedral on Scattery Island; it reflects the medieval monastic and ecclesiastical significance of the site.
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
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