Killilagh Church (in ruins) — Killilagh

On a low ENE-WSW running ridge in undulating pastureland, in the centre of an associated graveyard (CL008-063002-). Indicated and named ‘Killilagh Church (in ruins)’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Mentioned as Killadlagh (Cill Eidlach) in the Papal Taxation List of 1302 and in the Calendar of Papal Letters in the early 15th century (Westropp 1900-1902, 135; Cunningham 1980, 88). The church in its current form has been dated to the late 15th or early 16th century (Westropp 1900-1902, 135; 1905, 358; Cunningham 1980, 88; Swinfen 1992, 52). Its foundation has been attributed to Saint Falie/Falia (Comber 1997, 102) and Saint Lonan (Westropp 1900-1902, 135), among other possibilities (e.g., Spellissy 1983, 10). The now roofless church comprises a rectangular nave (19.4m ENE-WSW; 7.95m NNW-SSE) with a square transept (5.2m NNW-SSE; 5.47m ENE-WSW) built against the E end of the S wall. It is constructed of random-coursed mortared limestone masonry with a rubble core and stressed quoinstones (wall Wth 0.9-1.07m). All of the walls stand to their original heights, except the E gable which has almost entirely collapsed. The N wall (H 3.55m) has an offset in the exterior, 10.6m from the NW corner. This corresponds roughly to either of two vertical lines in the S wall, and may possibly be an indication of the original length of the nave before the transept was built (c. AD 1500). There is a partly blocked opening (H 1.33m; Wth 0.75m) 4.75m from the E end of the N wall. Only the exterior part of this opening was blocked, resulting in a shallow niche-like recess in the inner wall-face of the nave. A drainage course runs along the top of this wall. Only the ivy-clad N end (L c. 2m) of the E wall survives. This wall collapsed in a storm in 1903 (Westropp 1905, 358). However, it was described in the OS Letters of 1839 (Comber 1997, 102) as having a high round-headed window (H c. 3.05-3.66m; Wth 0.2-1.68m; 1.52m above ext. ground level) (see also Frost 1893). Limited excavation in 2013 revealed the location of the altar at this gable (Hull 2013:380, www.excavations.ie). The S wall (H 3.55m) of the nave incorporates a doorway (Wth 1.18m; H 2.15m) near its SW corner, with intact lintel. One of the surviving jambstones is a re-used stoup featuring a shallow circular depression (diam. c. 0.1m) on its surface. To the E of the doorway is a plain single-light loop (H 0.85-1.1m; Wth 0.2-0.7m; 1.15m above int. ground level). To the E of this loop there are two vertical joints in the wall, running from the ground to the top. These joints (also visible on the inner wall-face within the nave) may be due to repair-work, or alternatively they may mark the original corner of the nave. Near the E end of the S wall is a wide round arch (Wth 2.22m; H 1.83m) separating the nave from the transept, with finely chiselled and pecked patterns on the voussoirs. As on the N wall, a drainage course runs along the top of the S wall. The W wall (H 7m) has a single plain loop at upper floor level, and a partly broken square-headed bellcote/belfry over the apex. The transept has a window in the centre of each of its three exterior walls, all with finely decorated spandrels. The E window is a simple ogee-headed loop (H 1.03-1.4m; Wth 0.21-0.86m), as is the W window (H 0.92-1.25m; Wth 0.17-0.75m). Both have fine carvings on the jambs, and there is a spudstone on the W window. The S wall has a twin-light double ogee-headed ope (H 1.33-1.9m; 0.5-1.37m) with external hood-moulding and a missing mullion. Large (2011) noted a fragment of a basal quern stone with partial perforation and an inscribed stone with vine leaf and a lion in false relief, both built into the church wall. The church interior is largely overgrown and rubble-strewn, with many loose cut-stone pieces visible, including a door jambstone just inside the doorway and the base of a font (CL008-063005-) at the W end of the nave. There is a burial vault (AD 1784) of the Thynne family in the NW corner (Swinfen 1992, 53). The following images have been uploaded: CL008-063001-_01.jpg W gable CL008-063001-_02.jpg W window of transept CL008-063001-_03.jpg Partly blocked opening in N wall and later burial vault from SW CL008-063001-_04.jpg S wall of transept  CL008-063001-_05.jpg E window of transept from SE CL008-063001-_06.jpg E window of transept interior CL008-063001-_07.jpg Doorway interior from NW CL008-063001-_08.jpg S wall of nave and W wall of transept, from SW CL008-063001-_09.jpg Nave interior from SW CL008-063001-_10.jpg Arch between nave and transept from NW CL008-063001-_11.jpg Stoup re-used as jambstone CL008-063001-_12.jpg Decorative stone in church wall CL008-063001-_13.jpg Basal quernstone fragment re-used in church wall Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 10 January 2023 Spellissy, S. 1983 A Doolin walk: from Tuath Clae Church to Doonagore Castle. The Other Clare 7, 8-13.