Church in Gransha Lower

The medieval church of Kiltallagh (Cill Tulach) is located in the townland of Gransha Lower, parish of Kiltallagh, diocese of Ardfert, barony of Trughanacmy. According to O'Donoghue (1893, 36), 'The church of 'Faolan of Kiltulach' may have bee that of Kiltallagh, from which Carthage Mochuda was forced to withdraw, and which Bishop Domaingen may have bee given in charge to his brother Faolan'. In 1302 the papal taxation of the Deanery of Offeria in the diocese of Ardfert listed the church of 'Kiltulagh' which was then valued annually at 13s. 4d. with the tithe valued at 16d. (Cal. doc. Ire. vol. 5, 295). Church of Ireland building probably stands on site of medieval church of Kiltullagh which was dedicated to St Carthach. In 1871 it was recorded that the medieval church 'stood where the Protestant church now stands. There are some stones of the old building scatter about the graveyard, and one in the immediate vicinity, hollowed in the shape of an inverted cone, around people pay rounds. This is called Cloch-Mochaeda [KE047-028001-], or the stone of St. Carthage Mochaeda' (Cusack 1871, 453). Saint Cartach's Church (NIAH Reg. No.21304701) described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as a; 'Freestanding double-height Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland church, date 1816, with three-bay nave and single-bay three-stage entrance tower to west gable end. Renovated internally and extended, c. 1875, with single-bay single-storey vestry projection added to north elevation. Graveyard to site with various cut-stone grave markers and mausolea, c. 1820-present. Gateway, built c. 1820, to south-east comprising pair of limestone ashlar piers with cast-iron gates' (www.buildingsofireland.ie). Folklore collected from Castlemaine School about the 'The Old Church of Kiltallagh' recorded the following tradition; 'There is an old ruin of a church near my uncles house. There are three priests buried in the middle of the old ruin. On a dark Winters night big light is seen there. There is also a ruin of town to be seen. It is called Clounalassan. It is probably one of the forts owned by Fingen Macuda's father. Not very far from the ruin is a stone called the holy stone [KE047-028001-]. People come to this stone to get cured and leave rags on a tree near it. People say if you took anyone of the rags in your hands you would get the disease the person had. This stone is called Cloc Moc[?] and is situated in the foot- path leading to the Rectory. The people come to this stone generally before dawn and bring a bottle of water from a well nearby. They then say three or four rosaries and wash their eyes in the water. Immediately they are cured and leave a rag or some other token on a tree near the stone as we have already mentioned' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0433, Page 034; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4687710/4686092). See attached photograph courtesy of Amanda Clarke Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 23 May 2022