St Carthach's Old Church — Kilcar

Kilcar Old Church (DG096-010005-): The parish church was in ruins in 1622 (Royal Commission, 221). The surviving church remains, 6.05m wide internally, are probably of a later date. It continued in use until 1828 when a new church (now disused) was built in Kilcar Village (Lewis 11, 1837, 58; Maguire 1920, 38). Only the W gable at full height and adjoining sections c. 5-6m long of N and S walls survive. They are built of rubble and had ashlar quoins, most of which are missing. The door in the centre of the W gable has very weathered, bold chamfered jambs with pointed head. The ingoings with round-headed rear-arch are set back from the jambs and the S has a draw-bar socket. The N wall c. 2.1m high is featureless. The S wall c. 2.6m high has a distinct full length break in the masonry c. 1m from the interior SW corner. The E section may be an addition; it retains the splayed ingoing for a window at its E end. The church interior is plastered and the exterior is harled. Kilcar Church is situated inside a rectangular graveyard (DG096-010005-) 28m N-S x 44m E-W. A carved stone fragment, probably part of a window from the church, is reused as a grave marker in the E half of the graveyard. Nearby on the roadside is a stone (DG096-010007-), built into a boundary wall, with a number of random grooves. These are believed locally to be of ancient origin. About 100m NE of the church is Tobermurry which consists of a bullaun (DG096-010003-) or rock-basin surrounded by a cairn (DG096-010004-) 6m x 8.8m. Two depressions, (i) .34m x .4m and 0.23m deep and (ii). 2m in diameter and 0.05m deep, and a channel which feeds water to the first depression are carved on the top of the bullaun stone. (Ó Muirgheasa No. 22) 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. Attached images: DG096-010005-_01.JPG W gable -exterior DG096-010005-_01.JPG Church viewed from E Date of revised upload: 24 April 2018