Lorum Church (in ruins) — Lorum

Situated on high ground with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Lorum is derived from the Gaelic Leamdhroim meaning the elm ridge and is connected with saint Darlugdach who died in 525 (Calise 2002, 210). Only the W gable of a church with entrance tower of 18th-century date remains upstanding in the W quadrant of the graveyard (CW019-011004-) at Lorum. The low wall-footings of the levelled N and S walls of the church can be seen with no footings visible for the destroyed E gable. The dating of this church gable is uncertain, the ITA Survey suggested that this church dated from the 18th century and that an earlier church site was located elsewhere within the graveyard. The entrance tower on the W end of the church with red brick pointed windows and cut stone doorway dates from the 18th century but may have been added onto the gable of an earlier church. The OS Letters (O’Flanagan 1934, 311) of 1837-40 recorded that at ‘Lorum, there was, it is said, an old Church before the present Parish one (CW019-011001-), which is now falling to ruin, was erected. The spot where it stood is shown in a field, a few perches to the northeast corner of the Parish Church (CW019-011001-) and a few yards to southwest corner of a Church (C of I church) which is now in progress of being built. Tradition says there was a steeple (round tower) here (Tradition means here the local information of those who heard there was such a building here, but never saw it)’. In 1795 Lorum was described as ‘a poor place, with as poor a Church. However, the 18th of April being a Patron Day of St. Lazarianus (Laserian) is highly celebrated, who was one of the first founders of the Cathedral of Old Leighlin and was buried here. There is now on Patron held, nor is there any memorial whatever of St. Laserian in the Churchyard. Indeed there can be no doubt that he was not buried here but at Old Leighlin. The only objects worthy of any notice are two handsome modern tombs of the Rudkin family’. The ITA Survey of 1945 described the present church ruins as the remains of an 18th-century C of I church while only the site of the levelled medieval church survived visible as a low rise of ground inside the graveyard (CW019-011004-). The survey stated that ‘the ruin of this early Church. Only featureless fragments of foundations remain in an old burial ground. Early church was pulled down to make way for early 18th century Church of Ireland now also in ruins; and which was replaced by the present magnificent building’ (SMR file). Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 397) recorded that Lorum or Leamhdruim was an early monastery founded by St. Laserian. In 1204 the Bishop of Leighlin was confirmed of his possession of lands including ‘Lenidruim’ (Lorum) (Cal. papal letters, 18). The church of’ Lonedrum’ (Lorum) was valued at 3 marks in the 1302-06 ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland (Cal. doc. Ire., 250). In 1456 David O’Curreyn was in possession of the perpetual vicarage of ‘Leodryn’ (Lorum) in the diocese of Leighlin of the deanery of Leighlin (Cal. papal letters, 272). In 1470, Charles O’Curreyn/Curryn was recorded as the perpetual vicar of the parish church of ‘Lewrdruyn’ (Lorum) (Cal. papal letters, 756). In 1550, Walter Pipparde/Peppard, was granted a 21 year lease of lands belonging to the dissolved priory of Glascarrig, Co. Wexford which included the rectory of ‘Lorome’ (Lorum) (Nicholls 1994, 154). Around the year 1570 Lorum Church was listed by Daniel Kavanagh, Bishop of Leighlin as one of the ‘Churches being in utter ruin, and the land being in utter waste’ (Hughes 1873, 300). Church building described in 1810 as one of ‘two Churches, in repair’ (Carlisle 1810). In 1837 Lorum Church was described as ‘an old building, containing two modern tombs of the Rudkin family, has been recently repaired’ (Lewis 1837, 312). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Carlow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1993). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Anna Brindley Revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 17 August 2015