Kilquane Church (in Ruins)

Kilquane church and graveyard/ Cill Chuáin (KE034-106004-): The modern rectangular graveyard and site of the medieval parish church are located directly S of Kilquane village at the foot of the W slopes of Brandon Peak. Church (KE034-106003-): There appears to have been a church here by 1475 (Cal Pap Reg, 13, 460). It is not included however in the list of churches in the diocese in 1622 (TCD Ms 2158, 94) and may have fallen into disrepair before that date. In 1841 the remains of the church, 15.25 x 5.38m with walls 1.4m thick, were visible in the graveyard; the N, W and E walls were reduced to foundations, but the extant section of the S wall preserved the remains of a lintelled doorway (OSL). No trace of the church is now visible but 2 pivot stones lying loose in the graveyard may be related. One is a rectangular slab with a central perforation measuring 0.12m in diameter; this resembles the pivot stones preserved above the doorway in Gallarus oratory (KE042-071004-). The 2nd stone is broken but preserves a small perforation measuring 0.03m in diameter. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 857. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 9 August 2013

Kilquane Church (Cill Chuáin) was likely built in the early medieval period, with its name suggesting dedication to Saint Chuán, a local or regional saint. The church and surrounding graveyard were significant as a parish center, though specific builders and exact dates remain unrecorded.