Kilbarron Old Church

Kilbarron Church (DG103-055): The ruins of a simple 15th or 16th century rectangular church, 10.3m by 4.9m internally, are built of squared boulder rubble with ashlar quoins. The E gable is 2.4m high and preserves no evidence of a window. The N and S walls stand to a height of c. 3m. About midway along the latter is a pointed doorway; the jambs are rebuilt. The splayed ingoings are lintelled and bond holes remain for a supporting wooden beam; the E ingoing preserves a small socket for a latch. There is a similar doorway with draw-bar socket at the E end of the N wall. The W gable survives to full height; some coping is in situ on the N. The upper section of the gable is lit by a narrow rectangular window with wide splay. The five corresponding joist holes in the N and S walls must have supported a gallery, access to which was probably from the NW corner along the gable. A collapsed altar lies at the foot of the E gable. Spalled masonry on the interior face of the W gable, the adjoining sections of N and S walls, and the SE corner of the church, was caused by fire in these areas. Abutting the N wall of the church are the remains of a structure, c. 8.8m by 5.9m internally, for the most part represented only by lines of stone, now much ruined and overgrown; possibly a priest's residence. The church is surrounded by a featureless disused graveyard (DG103-055001-) which is believed to be the location of an early ecclesiastical site. (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 388) 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