Grave Yard — Listowel

Medieval parish church of Listowel stands in the parish of Listowel, diocese of Ardfert and the barony of Iraghticonnor. Annotated 'Church Tower' on 1841 ed. OSi 6-inch map where it is shown standing in NW quadrant of triangular-shaped graveyard (KE010-061001-) with glebe land to S. Ringfort (KE010-060----) annotated 'Listowel' and castle stands 250m and 580m to SW respectively. the 1892 ed. OSi 25-inch map shows that the earlier triangular-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 74m N-S x 47m E-W) was extended to the SE to form a larger rectangular-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 67m N-S x 100m E-W). In the 1900's the graveyard has been extended to the S into the glebe land of the church creating the large modern graveyard (dims. c. 220m N-S x 77m E-W). Listowel (Lios Tuathail) Church and graveyard described by the Ordnance Survey in 1841 as follows; 'The only old buildings now remaining at Listowel town are a castle and the tower of a modern church. The latter is a square tower standing in a burying ground [KE010-061001-] immediately to the east of Listowel town' (O'Donovan 1983, 25). Church tower (KE010-061----) and graveyard described by Toal (1995, no. 3) as follows; 'This tower KE010-061---- is situated E of the town and lies in the corner of the graveyard KE010-061001-. These remains would appear to be an arqually Protestant church built in the 18th century. The nave would have extended into the graveyard originally; however, in 1819 it was removed and the stones used in the construction of St John's Church of Ireland in the square, which is now an Arts/Heritage centre. The tower itself is constructed of limestone and lime and sand mortar. It rises to a height of 9m and is completely covered in ivy. The lower portion of the tower has been converted into a vault where the Church family are buried. The oldest section of the graveyard is situated around the tower'. Church tower and graveyard described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage [NIAH] as follows; 'Freestanding single-bay three-stage tower, built c. 1775, originally entrance tower to Church of Ireland church. Ruinous in 1939. Nave demolished, c. 1940, and with openings to tower blocked-up. Plain parapet wall with limestone coping. Coursed limestone rubble walls with hammered quoins and having plaster to east face. Round-headed openings with rubble voussoirs and reveals. Square-headed window to south face with limestone lintel and relieving arch. Graveyard to site with various cut-stone grave markers and mausolea, c. 1775-1940. Gateway, built c. 1850, to south comprising render piers with cast-iron gates' (NIAH Reg. No. 21400231; www.buildingsofireland.ie). Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 10 June 2022