Killermogh Church (in Ruins) — Killermogh

The patron saint of Killermogh meaning 'The Church of the Outer Oaks' was St Muicin and his feast-day was celebrated on the 9th November (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 65). A rectangular church (L c. 13.7m, Wth c. 5.7m, wall T. c. 0.8m) built of roughly coursed limestone rubble and now in very poor condition. The E gable contains a single-light ope, otherwise featureless. There are some uninscribed grave-markers visible in the surrounding roughly rectangular graveyard (LA029-022001-). Described by Carrigan as 'The parish church of Kylermugh was 53 feet long, externally, and 24 feet wide. The side-walls are gone almost entirely; the gables are 38 in. thick, and still remains, though somewhat broken. At the west end was a gallery to which access was had by a flight of stone steps built against the outward face pf the south wall. The entrance door was in the same wall. The east gable window is damaged; it was 3 feet high, and cannot have been more than 6 inches wide. The church is very low, and is built of the roughest kind of stones. The graveyard (LA029-022001-) is small and has no monuments of interest. In 1392, Sir Hugh le Despencer transferred, inter multa alia, to the Earl of Ormond, the 'Manor of Kildermoy' which shows he then had, or claimed to have some title to this part of Upper Ossory. At the time of the Cromwellian forfeitures the Fitzpatricks were proprietors of the whole parish of Kylermugh' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 65-6). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007