Murher Church (in ruins) — Murher

Medieval parish church ruins of Murher (Maigh Oirthir) stands in the N quadrant of a graveyard (KE006-015001-) in the S quadrant of Glebe Land in the parish of Murher, diocese of Ardfert, barony of Iriaghticonnor. In 1302 the papal taxation of the Diocese of Ardfert valued the Church of 'Magtr' at 10s per annum with the tithe valued at 12d. (Cal. doc. Ire., Vol. 5, 297). In 1426 there is a reference to 'Thateo Oleagari' vicar of the parish church of 'Mugerhyr' (O'Connell and Costello 1958, 4). The Augustinians of Rattoo (KE009-056004-) were rectors of Murhur (ibid.). In 1432 church there is a reference to Donatus O'Conchubhair as vicar of the parish church of 'Mageyhyr' (Ibid., 5-6). In 1433 the church taxation records refer to Dermot O'Scanlon and the parish church of 'Magierhic' (ibid., 7-8). In 1435 a papal letter recorded the following details about the joining of the churches of Murher and Knockanure (KE011-022----); 'Mandate to collate and assign to Dermit Oscanlayn [O'Scanlon], canon of Ardfert who was lately dispensed by papal authority, as the son of unmarried parents related in the third and third degrees of kindred (i) to be promoted to all, even holy orders and hold benefice even with cure, (i) provision having been ordered by the said authority to be made to him of a canonry of the church of Ardfert and the prebend of the church of Mohayrit [Murher Church] in the said diocese of Ardfert, to receive and hold them, the perpetual vicarage of Hyorcolle [Knockanure] in the said diocese, value not exceeding 3 marks, void because Cormac Oconchuerie [O'Connor], when holding it, entered and made his regular profession as a canon of the Augustinian monastery of Ratuhy [Rattoo KE009-056004-] in the said diocese; whether it be so 'void, or because Donald Oykennela [O'Kennelly] held it for more than a year without being ordained priest, or in any other way, and notwithstanding that he holds the said canonry and prebend and the vicarage of the said church of Mohyry [Murher] value not exceeding 2 and 6 marks respectively. Dermit, who asserts that the said parish churches are only about two miles of Italy apart, and that mass has not been for several years celebrated in the said church of Hyorcolle [Knockanure], is hereby further dispensed on account of the said defect etc., to receive the said vicarage of Hyorcolle [Knockanure], and moreover to hold it and that of Mohyryr [Murher] together for life' (Cal. papal letters, vol. 8, 560-1). In 1615 the Royal Visitation of the Diocese of Ardfert recorded the following details; 'Vicar of Knocknewer [Knockanure KE011-022----] and Murphir. Rectoria spectat ad Autho Stoughton. Luke Moris minister legens residet. Valoris 3 libri. Church and chancell well slated' (Murphy 1915, 185). Church ruins described in 1841 by the Ordnance Survey as; 'The old church of Murhur is situated on low marshy ground in the townland of Glebe. The exact dimensions of this building cannot now be determined as the west gable has entirely disappeared, but its breadth was twenty-three feet [7m], and eighty-two feet [25m] of the length of the south wall and seventy feet [21m] of that of the north one remain, and are four feet [1.2m] in thickness and about sixteen feet [5m] in height and built of thin quarried stones and lime and sand cement. The east window is entirely destroyed. At the distance of two feet four [0.7m] inches from the east gable there is on the south wall a window formed of cut stone destroyed at the top on the inside but in good preservation on the outside, where it is pointed and measures four feet three inches [1.3m] in height and seven and a half inches [0.18m] in width. At the distance of thirteen feet eight inches [4.1m] from this there is another window of the same form and dimensions and at the same distance from the last mentioned is a third one of the same dimensions but rectangular at top. At the same distance from the last mentioned window was placed the doorway, but it is now entirely disfigured so that its dimensions or characteristics could not be given or described. At the distance of seventeen feet [5.2m] from the locus of the doorway are two small windows placed one over the other; of these the lower one which is disfigured on both sides, is only two feet [0.6m] from the present level of the ground, but the higher one, which is in tolerable preservation, is formed of cut limestone and placed at the height of eight feet ten inches [2.7m] from the ground, and measures two feet nine inches and a half [2.7m] in height and eight and a half inches [0.21m] in width; it is quadrangular in form. The north wall has no windows but it has a doorway at the distance of twenty-seven feet two inches [8.3m] from the east gable; it is destroyed at top on the inside but in good preservation on the outside where it measures five feet four inches [1.6m] in height from the present level of the ground and two feet six inches [0.76m] in width; it is semi-circular at top and formed of chiselled limestone. This church stands in a large grave yard now much in use. A "Patron' is annually held here on 8 September in honour of the Blessed Virgin' (O'Donovan 1983, 14-15). Church and graveyard described by Toal (1995, no. 935) as follows; 'Murhur Church (in ruins), Graveyard (KE006-015001-). The 8th century genealogy of the Ciarraige refers to Murhur (Mag nAirthir) as a church site which was founded by Bishop Fáelán of the local ruling dynasty (BAR 102, 1982, 329). From at least the 14th century it was administered by the Augustinian canons at Rattoo. Today the ruins of the old parish church can still be seen in the graveyard. The remains of the church are in a very ruinous state and the dimensions could not all be taken because the W gable has completely disappeared. Its width measures 6.7m internally, the walls being 1.4m in thickness. The S wall remains to a length of 24m externally'. In 2011 a graveyard survey carried out by Ann Frykler and Robert Hanbidge of Headland Archaeology Ltd. recorded the following details: 'The church ruin is listed in the RMP as KE006‐015 and is in poor condition with substantial areas of ivy overgrowth covering the majority of the existing structure. The church has a rectangular plan and is orientated on an east/west axis with only the western wall completely missing. The southern wall survives in the best condition and judging from the surviving ruined windows, the church may have had a three‐bay nave. The eastern wall only partially survives as much of the northern portion of this elevation is missing. The northern wall is in poor condition and is badly overgrown. A large breach is present in the eastern portion of the wall and gives access to the tarmacadam path. In the interior 15 graves are located. The standing walls consist of dressed rubble limestone with a lime and gravel mortar. The window forms are narrow and consist of weather tooled limestone sills and surrounds. No voussoirs to the window. Architectural features - Miscellaneous No. 02: Consists of an apex stone block with a plinth (also known as an acroterion) which was located at the gable end at the apex level of a pitched roof. The hole in the centre of the plinth would have originally accommodated a stone/iron finial, possibly a cross. This piece may be associated with the roof of the church and indicates that the gable ends most likely had tooled limestone coping. The location of this item to the east of the church supports this idea. Miscellaneous No. 03: Located close to the Miscellaneous No. 02 is a broken piece of a finely tooled stone finial. This finial may have formed the finial of the church roof. Miscellaneous No. 04: Located close to Miscellaneous Nos. 02 and 03 is an unusual carved stone slab. This broken stone has a drilled hole at one end. The exact function of this stone is unknown, it may possibly represent a wall mounted plaque or a more elaborate headstone' (Hanbidge 2011, 10-11). See attached pla