Laraghbryan Church (in Ruins)

The church is mentioned in Strongbow's confirmation of the Glendalough possessions as belonging to Glendalough in 1173, and was later subservient to St. Mary's Maynooth (KD005-016----) with which it was united in 1518. According to the OSL (Herity 2002, 15-16) Archdall records the death of the First Earl of Kildare at Laraghbryan in AD 1316. It was in good condition in 1615, and in 1630, although by the latter date the chancel was 'uncovered' (IHR 1941a, 47-8; IHS, 98). Stands to SW of centre of a graveyard (KD005-009003-). A fairly well-preserved, but completely ivy-clad, rectangular structure (int. dims. L 24.9m E-W; Wth 5.9m) built of coursed, limestone blocks (walls av. T 0.8m) with roughly dressed quoins, comprises a nave (int. dims. L 14m; Wth 5.9m) and slightly narrower chancel (int. dims. L 10.9m; Wth 5.35m), with a later, three-storied, rectangular tower (int. dims. L 3.5m E-W ; Wth 2.5m: wall T 0.6m) abutting the W gable wall. The nave can be entered through either of two, almost opposing, opes near the W ends of the N (Wth 3.5m) and S walls (Wth 3.3m), which are probably enlarged original doorways. The nave is lit by one window in the N wall and two in the S wall; all tall, pointed-arched and set in broadly splaying, round-arched embrasures and probably 14thC in date, and plaster survives on the wall faces. The slightly narrower chancel has a modern burial vault inserted into its E end where the original E window is robbed-out. It is lit by one window in the N wall and three in the S, one of which is now blocked-up, all similar to those in the nave. There are two doorways in the N wall. The more easterly one (Wth 1.5m) appears to be a later insertion into an older window ope opposite a similar ope in the S wall, while the more westerly one (Wth 1.8m) is almost opposite a third doorway (Wth 1.3m) which also appears to be a later insertion into an older window ope into which a single light, cusped ogee-headed window head with hood-moulding, and concave jambs (15thC?) was previously inserted, in the S wall. The later tower is entered from the nave through a low, narrow (Wth 0.87m) round-headed doorway. The ground-floor is lit by a loop in the SW angle from where a lintelled intramural stairs leads to first-floor level which is lit by a loop in the N and S walls and contains a wall-cupboard in the N wall. A spiral stairs in the NW angle leads to second-floor level which is lit by a loop in the SW angle. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

Laraghbryan Church was built in the medieval period, likely before 1173, and was originally part of the Glendalough monastic complex; it later came under the jurisdiction of St. Mary's Maynooth and was united with it in 1518. Its significance lies in its historical connection to the Glendalough religious community and its role in the evolving ecclesiastical structure of the region.