Church (in ruins) — Rathfarnham

Situated on a height above the S bank of the River Dodder. The earliest reference to this church is 1225 when it was the subject of a dispute between the Prior and Canons of Holy Trinity and the Archdeacon of Dublin (Ball 1903, 2, 152-155, Breen 1981, 120-122). It went out of use by 1795. All that survives of the medieval parish church is the nave and the chancel arch. The W gable stands to full height and carries a double bellcote. It is built of roughly coursed limestone masonry with rough dressing on the quoins. The church is entered through a tall narrow partially brick-faced opening in the W gable. At the base of the doorway, on the S side are original chamfered jambs with moulding. Burial has taken place in the interior (dims. L 16.10m, Wth 6.30m, T 0.87m). In the E end of the S wall are the remains of a 16th century window with hammer-dressed jambs which are chamfered. There are bar holes present. The chancel arch is pointed. Formerly, it led into a small chancel (Price 1942, 60). Compiled by Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 25th April 2012