Kilcorkey Church and Nunnery

Traditionally regarded as a nunnery when it was recorded by J. O'Donovan c. 1837 (O'Flanagan 1931, vol. 1, 83), probably because the patron was Curcach, a female saint associated with the Greagraighe, a subject people of north-west Roscommon and south Sligo. Her feast is recorded as 26 November in the martyrologies but was celebrated on 21 July here (Ó Riain 2011, 249). If there was an early church in Kilcorkey it may be that at Ballaculla (RO015-047001-) c. 2.6 km to the N or Tully (RO021-022008-) c. 2.1km to the WSW. This church was probably the parish church of Kilcorkey, listed as Kilcurcumagy in the ecclesiastical taxation of Elphin in 1306 (Cal. doc. Ire., vol. 5, 223). It is situated on a level landscape. This is a rectangular structure (ext. dims 22.5m E-W; 9m N-S) with a featureless S wall (H c. 2m) and a W Wall (H c. 4m) which has a doorway (Wth 0.6m; H 1.35m) 2m over the ground leading to a structure to the W which does not survive. The N and E walls of the church appear to be re-built and are featureless (H c. 2m), and a chamber (ext. dims 6.5m N-S; 6m E-W) is attached to the E end of the N wall. It is within a rectangular graveyard (RO021-008003-) (dims c. 55m E-W; c. 30m N-S) defined by masonry walls that is neglected. Gannon (1972) records that there are a number of cross-slabs, apparently latin crosses and possibly recent, in the graveyard, but none were noted. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revised upload: 16 April 2018