Church (in Ruins) — Portaliff OR Townparks

Church with nave (int. dims. c. 20m E-W; c. 8m N-S) and large south transept (dims. c. 9m E-W; c. 9m N-S) situated within a former embanked enclosure. Hachured arc marked on current OS indicates an enclos­ure running from SSW-W-NNE which is no longer visible at ground level. Graveyard extends beyond line of enclosure. According to Davies' (1948, 97-8) read­ing of papal registers, there may have been a church on this site as early as 1433. A heraldic plaque on S gable of transept indicates that present structure was built by Lord Southwell in 1688. Davies described nave as having a W door, two N windows and an E window now blocked. All windows in church are round-headed with two rounded lights surmounted by a circular ope. He also noted 'the fine Jacobean door in S transept leading down to a font with elaborate Jacobean canopy and hence into the nave, or upwards to a gallery beneath the brick vaulting of the transept'. The E portion of transept was walled off and probably used as a vestry. Ornamental terminals on gable-coping. This structure has been identified as being of National importance. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 16 January 2018