Clogherbrien Church (in ruins) — Clogherbrien

Clogherbrien (Cloichear Bhraoin) church ruins are depicted as a small square tower on the 1841 ed. OSi 6-inch map where it is shown standing on W angle of graveyard wall. The medieval parish church of Clogherbrien stands in the parish of Clogherbrien, Diocese of Ardfert, Barony of Trughanacmy. In 1302 the papal taxation of the Deanery of Offeria in the Diocese of Ardfert valued the church of 'Clutyrbryn' at 40s per annum with the tithe valued at 4s. (Cal. doc. Ire., Vol. 5, 295). In 1418, a papal letter recorded that 'Richard de Muor, priest, of the diocese of Ardfert' was provided with the rectories of 'Anach and Cluhirbryn' which was of the patronage of laymen, even though he was in 'minor orders only' (Cal. papal letters, Vol. 7, 47). According to the Desmond Survey the patronage of the church of Clogherbrien was in the gift of the earl of Desmond. In 1615 the Royal Visitation o the Diocese of Ardfert recorded that Clogherbrien was 'Wholly ruined and the parish came to Traly [Tralee]' (Murphy 1915, 183). In 1841 the Ordnance Survey described the church ruins as follows; 'the crypt of the old church. This crypt is built of limestone and lime and sand mortar, and has a stone roof. It is divided into two apartments, the one of which to the south, is twenty-two feet [6.7m] long, nine feet [2.7m] broad, and eight feet [2.4m] high. Its walls are three feet [0.9m] thick. There are on it two square windows built of hammered limestone. One on the south wall arched within and broad; and narrow outside. One on the west wall square within and narrow outside. The east end of the south apartment is quite open the whole breadth and height of it. On the north wall at the east end, is an entrance into the north part. This entrance is battered on each side, and was square, being crossed at the top by a flagstone. This north part has a wall at the east end enclosing it, and has two breaches through the north side wall. One near the east end not reaching to the ground, and where there was probably a window; a large one at the west end, reaching from the ground to the roof. There is a square window of hammered limestone on the west end, narrow outwards. The length of the north part is seventeen feet four inches [5.3m], the breadth is nine feet two inches [2.8m], the thickness of its walls is three feet [0.9m]. The whole roof is covered with grass outside on top' (O'Flanagan 1983, 78). In 2008 a graveyard survey carried out by Karen Buckley and Laurence Dunne recorded the following details: 'The 1st edition OS map 1842 depicts the ruined medieval structure in Clogherbrien as a square building abutting the western boundary with the northern boundary extending from the northeastern corner of the church, given an unusual size and layout to the graveyard. Clogherbrien was examined by Thomas O’Connor in 1841 who also only records what he determined were the vaulted remains of a square crypt whose walls were 0.9m thick (O’Donovan 1841, 78). It is difficult to establish the exact nature of the ruins in the graveyard but they appear to comprise of the reduced remains of two vaulted rooms most likely corresponding to the remains of a crypt. The floor level within the vaults has built up over the years and it is not possible to stand to full height in the northern vault. Furthermore, there is much collapse and robbing out of fabric. Access/egress into the two vaults is gained through a large opening on the eastern elevation. No precise information as to the exact nature of the building can be discerned from the relict structure and certainly twin vaulted crypts in parish churches are unusual to say the least. The structure is best paralled with a somewhat similar structure in Killiney graveyard in the Dingle Peninsula where a vaulted two storey tower of similar dimensions (circa 7.7m square) abuts the SE angle of the medieval church and was later adapted as a burial tomb in the 19th century (Cuppage et al 1986, 307). It is likely if not very possible, given the similarity to Killiney, that further remains of a more typical rectangular church structure exist below existing current ground level. Southern room and elevation: The southern elevation does not survive to full height and is in a poor state of preservation. The quoinstones are missing from both corners while a large void is apparent towards the centre of the elevation; to the immediate east of the window ope. The elevation is heavily overgrown with well established ivy. The southern elevation and room is lit by one window ope on the southern elevation, towards its western end. Internally, the window measures 1m x 0.95m x 0.75m and has a widely splayed embrasure with a rounded arch over while externally, the window measures 0.25m x 0.75m. The western elevation does not survive to full height and is heavily overgrown with well established ivy. A single window ope, centrally disposed, helps to light the southern room. The flat lintelled window measures 0.9m x 0.95m x 0.75m. Another window ope lights the northern room and comprises a flat lintelled, splayed embrasure measuring 1m x 0.85m x 0.8m. A small niche is present in the southwestern corner of west wall in the northern room, at approximately 1.2m above present ground level. An identical feature is evident directly opposite on the eastern wall of the northern room. Entrance to the two rooms is gained through the partially missing eastern elevation. The southern room is completely open at this end but remains intact for the northern room. An intramural recess is located in the northern corner of eastern elevation. As above, a small niche is present on this elevation directly across from an identical one on the western elevation. Interior east-west dividing wall: This wall forms this division between the southern and northern vaulted rooms. It is mainly featureless but an opening is present towards its eastern end which allows access to the northern room. While the sides of the opening are ragged, a flat lintel is evident over the opening suggesting it was a formal entranceway but the exact nature cannot be determined due to the build-up of soil and poor ragged condition of the opening. Northern elevation: This wall survives in a very poor state of preservation and is heavily overgrown with well established ivy, the roots of which are especially evident on the northeastern corner of the building. Two large openings are evident, with collapsed stone recorded on the interior of the northern room (Plate 28), however, it is unclear whether either of these two openings could represent window opes. A visual inspection of the exterior possible upper level discovered the continuation of the southern and western elevations with the remains evident on the southwestern corner of the building, with similar results recorded on the northwestern corner'. See attached sketch plan of church ruins surveyed by the ASI and photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 3 June 2022