Killemlagh Church (in Ruins) — Ráth Ciaráin

Killemlagh Church / Cill Imleach: This church is located in a graveyard (KE096-009003-) directly above Keel Strand, in a valley known locally as The Glen. It overlooks St Finan's Bay and the Skelligs to W. It is traditionally associated with St Finan, as is a holy well located a short distance to W (KE096-007-----). This association, along with the presence of a possible ogham stone in the Medieval church's W gable, suggests that the site may occupy the location of an earlier ecclesiastical foundation. Rounds were formerly made here by people 'afflicted with diseases of a scrofulous nature' (Lynch 1902a, 61). Church: The church of 'Killymlach' was noted in the Papal Taxation List (1302-06) for the Diocese of Ardfert (Cal Docs Ire, V, 298). The 'vicaradge of KilmcEllockochistra' was noted in the Royal Visitation of 1615, where its church was recorded as being 'in good condition'. It was included in a list of parochial churches in 1622 (TCD MS 2158, 94), and was recorded as being in ruins by the middle of the eighteenth century (Smith 1756, 104). A nineteenth-century Catholic chapel, now in ruins, was built against the N wall of the Medieval church. The latter measures 29.5m x 10.6m internally. Its walls are built of coursed rubble, with ashlar quoins and sandstone dressings bonded in a lime and gravel mortar. The quoins are alternately face-bedded and are preserved only at the SE and SW angles. The upper courses and midsection of the N wall were rebuilt when the adjoining chapel was constructed, and the upper portion of the E gable has fallen. The S side-wall and W gable stand to full height. Extensive burials occupy the interior of the church, and a number of tombs abut its S wall externally. The E gable stands to a maximum height of 7.6m at S, where it retains its ashlar coping. Otherwise it is preserved blocked, round-headed doorway which measures c. 1.9m high and c. 1.8m wide at present external ground level. The gable retains its coping and is set back for end rafters; a narrow recess for a collar-beam occurs close to its apex. A slightly projecting ledge occurs externally at eaves level. Ogham Stone (KE096-009001-): This stone, possibly ogham-inscribed, is built into the external face of the W gable, close to the NW angle (information: E. Rynne). It occurs in a horizontal position, 3.75m above present ground level. Its exposed edge measures 1.25m in overall length and features a number of ogham-like scores. Further scores are partly visible on the present underside of the stone. The discernable characters from left to right are: CLHQOC Cross-Inscribed Slab (KE096-009002-): This rectangular slab serves as the cover for a tomb located close to the W gable of the Medieval church. It measures 1.71m x .47m x .06m, and bears a plain linear cross at its S end. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1096. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013