Ruins of Church — Raymoghy

Raymoghy Old Church: The surviving remains indicate that the medieval parish church was significantly altered when converted for protestant worship c. 1622 (Royal Commission, 215). It continued in use until 1792 when a new church was built at Manorcunningham (Lewis 1837, 510). The church walls are obscured by a heavy growth of ivy, and the SW corner and most of the interior face of the S wall have fallen; the formeris covered by rubble. The church, 6.45m x 17.65m internally, is built of rubble with small pinnings and has ashlar quoins. The E gable is complete and has a round-headed window of three lights with simple switchline heads. The splayed ingoings are composed of horizontally-laid, small, flat stones. The whole is certainly an insertion and probably dates to the 17th-century reparation. S of the E window is a wall-press. The N wall contains the remains of four windows; only the central of the three easternmost windows retains its splayed ingoings and segmental rear-arch. The westernmost window was blocked up subsequent to the removal of its head and rear-arch; the W jamb contains three bevelled fragments. There may have been windows in the S wall but the ragged nature of the masonry precluded definite identification. The doorway is in the N wall at the junction with the W gable. The E jamb is composed of three chamfered blocks with interior rebate for the door; all have characteristic 15th-century punch dressing. The W jamb does not survive and the splayed ingoing is not bonded into the W gable. A medieval window fragment is incorporated in the exterior fabric of the W gable at this point. Three medieval window fragments (DG054-032002-) are built into the inner quoins of the graveyard (DG054-032001-) gate piers; these are undoubtedly from the parish church. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008