Church in Killaspuglonane

On a rise on a S-facing slope within an ecclesiastical enclosure (CL015-059001-). The site is overlooked by higher ground to the N, with panoramic views to the S and W. The church is not indicated on the 1840 and 1916 eds. OS 6-inch maps but its outline is clearly visible on OSi MapGenie orthophotography (2013-2018) lying c. 28m SE of the present graveyard (CL015-059003-). Listed by Sheehan (1982) among the early church-sites in north Clare. The identity of the Lonáin referenced in the name Cill Easpaig Lonáin has been disputed. Both O’Donovan and Frost identified ‘Bishop Lonane’ with St Flannan of Killaloe (Swan 1987, 162; Frost 1893, 108), although this was queried by Westropp (Westropp 1910, 152). Westropp identified the founder as ‘Bishop Lonan, a friend of St Maccreiche, to whom the well is dedicated, c.550’ (1900-1, 136; 1910, 152). The church was in use as a parish church in the later medieval period. In 1302-6 the church was valued at 26 shillings, a value shared by other churches in the diocese of Kilfenora (Ní Ghabhláin 1996, 40). Described as ‘ruinated’ during the Royal Visitation of Killaloe in 1615 (Swinfen 1992, 48). Circa 1814 Mason (1814, vol. 1, 489) noted the ‘ruins of the church built by Bishop Lenane’. O’Donovan reported that the church was ‘entirely levelled before 1839’ (Westropp 1900-1, 139). The grassed-over foundations of the church (L c. 15m E-W; Wth c. 8m) are apparent on the OSi MapGenie orthophotography just inside the NW-SE roadway. Swan noted the presence of dressed stone in the graveyard wall that probably derived from the church (Swan 1987, 161-2). A smaller building (CL015-059006-) also visible on the orthophoto lies c. 16m to the S of the church. The following item has been uploaded: CL015-059002-_01.jpg OSi MapGenie 2013-2018 image showing outline of church and building to SE of the graveyard References: Westropp, T. J. 1910 Notes on the antiquities around Kilfenora and Lehinch, Co. Clare, part III. North Munster Archaeological Society 1, 147-59. Swan, L 1987 A carved stone head from Killaspuglonane, Co. Clare. In Rynne, E. (ed.) Figures from the past: studies on figurative art in Christian Ireland, 159-167. Glendale Press. Dublin. Ní Ghabhláin, S. 1996 The origin of medieval parishes in Gaelic Ireland. The evidence from Kilfenora. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 126, 37-61. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Eve Campbell Date of upload: 11 July 2023