Church (in Ruins) — Loughanes

The 18th century C. of I. church ruins at Lisselton (Lios Eiltín) in the townland of Loughanes, in the parish of Lisselton, diocese of Ardfert, barony of Iraghticonnor was probably built on the site of the medieval parish church. The 1302-06 Ecclesiastical Taxation of the Diocese of Ardfert valued the church of 'Liseltyn' at 26s. 8d. per annum with the tithe valued at 2s. 8d. (Cal. doc. Ire.. Vol. 5, 296). In 1460 there is a reference to 'Dermicio Oconcii [Dermot O'Connor]' in relation to the tithes collected from parish church of 'Lyseltyri' (O'Connell and Costello 1958, 10). The medieval parish of Liselton (Lios Eiltín/ Fort of Eiltín) forms part of the modern parish of Ballybunion, the advowson of the vicarage belonged to the priory of Rattoo (KE009-056004-). In the same year a papal letter was sent to the 'prior of St. Mary's, Raythguela [Rathkeale LI029-031006-], in the diocese of Limerick, and Gerald and Maurice de Geraldinis, canons of Limerick' stating that the Pope had been informed by 'Dermit Ocontn (Oconcu), clerk, of the diocese of Ardfert, that Edmund Macclygeoyd [MacElligott], perpetual vicar of the parish church of Lyseltyn [Lisselton] in the said diocese, has dilapidated etc. and consumed for evil purposes the goods etc. of the said vicarage, committed simony and perjury and openly kept a certain woman as his concubine, to the shame of the clerical order' (Cal. papal letters, Vol. 12, 79). In 1483 there is a reference to 'Thomas Layles. clericus Artfertensis' in relation to the tithes collected from parish church of 'Lyseltin' (O'Connell and Costello 1958, 31). In 1576, Queen Elizabeth granted a 21 year lease to 'Gerald, earl of Dessmonde; of the site of the abbey of Rathtove alias Arragensis, of the order of S. Augustin, co. Kerry, the lands of Ballyownine, Adergowyll, Tyrrylaughaughnye, and Ardcullen, co. Kerry, the half of the rectories of Lyseltyne [Lissleton] and Callie, the other half whereof belongs to the vicars, and the fourth part of the rectory of Agheamallie, co. Kerry' (Nicholls 1994, 373). In 1581, Queen Elizabeth granted a 21 year lease of the same lands to 'John Sowche or Souche' (ibid., 520). In 1588-9, John Champen was granted by Queen Elizabeth a 40 year lease which included the 'half the rectories of Liseltin [Lisselton] and Gallie [Galey], the other half belonging to the vicar there, and a fourth part of the rectory of Aghahamally, co. Kerry' (ibid., 77). In 1596-7 these same rights were granted by the English Crown to George Isham of Brianstown, Co. Wexford (ibid., 277-9). In 1604, King James I granted 'Theobald Bourke, Baron Bourgh of Connell other Castleconnell' lands which included 'the advowsons of the vicarage of Liselty [Lisselton]; parcel of the etate of the late abbey of Ratowe' (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 54). In 1612, King James I granted 'Thomas Fitz-Morris, baron of Lixnawe' the right to hold 'a wednesday market at Lisselten [Lisselton]' (ibid., 225). In 1841 the Ordnance Survey recorded the following details about Lisselton; 'in Irish Lios Eiltin which signifies the Lis or earthen fort of Saint Eiltin. This saint is generally called 'Eiltin of Kinsale' and his feast was celebrated at his church in cech dú a tát, on 11 December. There are no antiquities in this parish; the site of the old church of Saint Elteen is occupied by a modern Protestant church' (O'Donovan 1983, 21). Lisselton church ruins were surveyed in 2010 and described as follows; 'Charles Smith recorded in 1756 that Liseltin was the same as Listowel, one half vicarial, the church in ruins. Patron: Anthony Stoughton, Esq. Proxy 5s (Smith 1756, 39). An account of Lisselton is recorded in the Ordnance Survey Name Books (OSNB) of 1841...The parish contains 3 protestants and 2355 Roman Catholics according to information provided by Rev Dawson Marry Ballybunnion and Rev John Buckley P.P who reside in the townland of Moybella South... It is observed that although there are but 2 resident protestants in this parish, yet in the bathing season the church of Liselton is attended by from 3 to 400 protestants being strangers (OSNB 1841). Two areas of glebe lands associated with the vicarage are denoted on the 1841 Ed. OSi six-inch map, the smaller of the two virtually abuts the Children’s Burial Ground (KE005-067----) to the south while the larger glebe, comprising two fields is located to the west. The western tower or belfry of a late 18th century First Fruits Church of Ireland is all that survives of this edifice. The tower stands to full height albeit the north-eastern corner of the crenellated parapet has collapsed and a serious crack extends from the collapsed area down to the 2nd floor window on the east elevation. The entrance into the tower is located on the north elevation. It is closed off with plywood that prevented access for the course of this survey. The entrance comprises a two-centred pointed doorway of punch dressed and edge draughted limestone. Immediately above which are three voidings or gaps in the outer masonry, one of which is the loss of the keystone or uppermost vousoir of the pointed arch underneath which the dressed limestone doorway is constructed. The ragged remains of the west elevation of the nave of the church, where it connected to the tower, survive as truncated nibs at the north and south corners of the east elevation. These ragged nibs may act as incidental buttresses to the tower. The tower has three levels that are architecturally identified on the exterior by projecting string courses of squared dressed limestone to first and second floors and chamfered dressed limestone under the uppermost parapet level. Two water spouts carry rainwater from the parapet above the chamfered string course on the south elevation. On all cardinal points of the second floor there simple pointed openings with straight sided ingoings. It is possible that originally these were louvered opes and not windows. The tower is constructed of local rubblestone randomly coursed with selected squared undressed rectangular blocks used as quoins. Featured dressed masonry is from carboniferous limestone. The masonry is bonded with a gritty lime mortar. A coarse gravel render survives on all elevations but particularly on the west and south elevations which appear to be in general good order. East elevation The east elevation survives to full height although the north east corner parapet crenellations have collapsed. The two-stepped crenellations of the parapet are capped with simple limestone flags. The ragged remains of the nave of the church extend to approximately mid-point on the first floor level. There is a blocked up and cemented archway that originally provided access from the ground floor tower space into the nave. Above the ground floor archway is the remains of a coherent internal scratch coat render complete with its diagonally disposed key. The finish coat survives as a few patches here and there. Immediately above the render and at the apex of the surviving ragged masonry of the nave is an opening with a three-centred arch. This opening most likely provided access into the upper level or gallery of the church from the first floor. Two areas of voiding are also visible beneath the opening. The jointing between the masonry appears open and may have been scoured out. This may reflect the removal in the recent past of vegetation growth on the tower. The remains of which are still clearly visible. Directly above, on the second floor, is a pointed opening. A coherent visible crack extends from the opening to the collapsed area of the parapet level' (Dunne 2010, 7-10). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 14 September 2022