Church (in Ruins) on Site of Monastery — Clane

According to Bradley et al. (1986, vol. 2, 142-44), the former parish church of 'St Michael's' was originally held by the Knights Hospitallers and is first referred to in 1212. Described as a parish church in 1307, by 1615 the chancel was in ruins. Located in a graveyard (KD014-0026011-) which may also occupy the site of the Early Christain monastery 'Cluain Damh' (KD014-026017-). The structure on the site today comprises a possibly 17th century, rectangular, four-storied, battlemented, west-tower (ext. dims. L c. 5.5m NNE-SSW; Wth c. 4.5m) onto which an apsidal church (dims. L c. 26m ESE-WNW; Wth 10m) was built in the late-18th c. The remains were renovated in the 1980's to serve as a community hall. The tower is entered through a modern, pointed-arched doorway in the S wall, but the original, partly blocked, round-arched doorway survives in the W wall. New floors, at different levels to the original, were inserted and the interior was plastered. The tower's windows and battlements date to c. 1800. A 12th/13th century granite font (KD014-026010-) found in the wall of the tower was moved to the church of 'St Michael and All Angels' at Millicent, where its present location is designated KD014-053----. Access from the tower to the church is through a round-arched door. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011