Kilfinan Church (in ruins) — Gorteenara

On a low hill in pasture; view obscured by rising ground at N and E. Situated at the NE end of a sub-triangular graveyard (KK005-011002-) which overlies an earlier enclosure (KK005-011003-). The church is dedicated to St Finian, though the ‘pattern’ of Kilminan was held in August, which is not the saint’s feast day, until it was suppressed around 1810 (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 105-6). A nave and chancel church with external base-batter which is constructed of roughly coursed limestone rubble, with larger blocks employed at base and quoins. The N, S walls and ivy-clad W gable of the nave (dims. 11.5m E-W x 5.8m N-S) are well preserved, but only the foundations of the chancel (dims. 7m x 4.1m) survive as low mounds. The tie-stones for the side walls of the chancel project (N wall L 0.8m; S wall L 1.4m) from the external E wall of the nave. Also, the lower portion of the chancel arch survives to springer level (H 2m). There are two doorways in the nave, one at the W end of the S wall of which none of the cut-stone surround survives, only the voussoirs above suggesting a pointed opening. Opposite in the N wall there is a pointed doorway with no cut stone. Both doorways have internal draw-bar holes. The nave was lit by a window at the E end of the S wall, broken out, within a round-headed embrasure, a window in the N wall, the head of which is obscured by ivy, and a centrally placed, flat-headed window in the W gable. The church and graveyard are privately owned. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 April 2017