Temple Donaghmore — Donaghmore Upper

On fairly level ground at the foot of a range of low hills, at the rear of modern farm buildings, in good pasture. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 299) Donaghmore was, 'a distinct parish down to the Reformation, when it was united to Fertagh. It was appropriated to Fertagh Priory at an early date. The parish church, dedicated to St. Patrick, was called in Irish Teampall Domhnaigh Mhóir. It was divided into nave and chancel, of which the former has been effaced; the latter was 26 ft. [c. 7.9m] long, but its foundations only remain'. There appears to have been more visible some years earlier as Moore (1874-9, vol. 1, 36-7) describes, 'the nave is about 40 feet [12m] long, and the transept [presumably chancel], which is narrower than the nave, is about 20 feet [6m] long. It looks east and west. The breadth of nave is 20 feet [6m]; that of the church [chancel] 16 [c. 4.8m]'. When visited in 1986 traces of the rectangular church (L c. 22m; W c. 6m) were visible extending E-W in the N part of the irregularly shaped graveyard (KK008-115002-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 22 January 2018