Kilmurry Church (in ruins) — Kilquane (trughanacmy By., Cordal Ed)

Kilmurry church described in 1841 as follows; 'In Kilmurry townland is situated an old church in ruins, called Cill Mhuire, Cella Sanctae Mariae, which gave name to the townland. It is situated on level ground and was built of limestone and lime and sand mortar. The two side walls and east gable remain, the west gable is destroyed. The length of the south wall is forty two feet [12.8m], the height about ten feet [3m], the thickness is three feet [0.9m]. The length of the north wall is forty-three feet [13.1m]. Its height and thickness are the same as the south wall. The breadth of the building is twenty one feet [6.4m]. At the distance of nine feet [2.7m] from the east gable is on the north wall a window of roughly chiselled, or rather hammered stone inside where it is square. It is pointed and of chiselled stone outside. The original height inside is not ascertainable, the lower part being broken; the breadth inside is two feet eleven inches [0.88m]. The height outside is four feet four inches [1.3m], the breadth is six inches [0.15m]. At the distance of six feet four inches [1.9m] from the east gable is a window on the south wall constructed of rude stone inside and covered with ivy at the top which part appears to be broken. The breadth inside is two feet nine inches [0.83m]. It is curvilineally pointed on the outside end constructed of cut stone. The height is four feet nine inches [1.44m], the breadth is six inches [0.15m]. There is a breach on the side of the east gable reaching to the ground, partly filled up with loose stones. There was a building attached to the west end of the church, about thirty feet [9.1m] long and apparently at the same breadth with it. About three or four feet [0.9-1.2m] in the height of the west gable of this building remains, three feet five inches [1.04m] thick. At the distance of twelve feet [3.65m] from the west gable is a small pointed doorway of chiselled limestone on a bit of the south wall which stands there. The height of the door is four feet three and a half inches [1.3m], the breadth two feet two inches [0.66m]. The interior was constructed of hammered stone it is now broken at the top' (O'Donovan 1983, 85-6). An archaeological survey undertaken in 2011 by Headland Archaeology Ltd. at Kilmurry Burial Ground, Cordal, Co. Kerry on behalf of Kerry County Council described Kilmurry Church site and graveyard (KE040-098001-) as follows; 'The graveyard is located on a relatively level area and is sheltered from the main prevailing winds by the surrounding higher ground. The church ruin survives in poor condition and is heavily overgrown with ivy. The interior of the church is dense with burials. Recent works to construct a plot at one of the internal graves has resulted in a negative impact on the ruin, with spoil from the clearance having been dumped on the eastern wall of the church, a process which also exposed human remains. In the central area of the graveyard are the ruins of Kilmurry Church. Only the north, south and east walls survive. These walls are in poor condition and are becoming increasingly unstable. The standing walls consist of roughly dressed rubble stone with a lime and gravel mortar. The church is orientated on an east/west axis. Due to excessive amounts of overgrowth, a more detailed description of the church is not possible. In the interior, the area is dense with burials and is also substantially overgrown with the exception of the south‐eastern corner which has been recently denuded of vegetation. Located in the south side of the southern elevation of the church was a large section of a possible tooled limestone sill or window surround. Located in the south side of the southern elevation of the church was a large section of a possible tooled limestone window surround, mullion or lintel, possibly representing evidence of tracery in one of the church windows. Located to the south side of the southern elevation of the church was a large section of a possible tooled limestone sill or window surround' (Hanbidge 2011, 15-16). See attached plan and photographs courtesy of Headland Archaeology Ltd. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Robert Hanbidge Date of upload: 22 April 2022