Church (in Ruins) — Shanagolden Demesne

Described in the Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 228-30) as following; 'The lands of Shanagolden or Sengola, as it termed in later documents, appear to have belonged to the diocese of Limerick in Anglo-Norman times (MacCaffrey 1907, 26) but whether they formed part of the pre-Norman diocesan lands or not is unknown. It was granted by Bishop Hubert de Burgh to the canons and vicars of St. Mary’s, Limerick, between 1225 and 1250 (ibid., 46) but it seems to have functioned during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries as an episcopal manor. A rental of the manor, made in 1336, survives in the Black Book of Limerick and this states that the burgesses of Seanguala rendered 100s annually to the bishop (ibid.,159). This reference indicates that the settlement was a borough. Its history after 1336, however, is to be presumed that, in conjunction with many other Limerick boroughs, it was deserted in the later middle ages. Westropp (1904-5, 396) provided a plan of this structure and described it as: 'a thirteenth century building consisting of a nave (48' [14.6m] by 25.5' [7.8m] and chancel (29.5' [8.8m] by 21' [6.4m]). The east window was a handsome transition design c. 1200. The nave had arcades with four plain pointed arches to each side, and a curiously fretted font [LI019-012004-]'. The church is now destroyed. It was situated on rising ground north of the town. Only a sub-rectangular raised area marks its site. The early 19th century three-floored tower survives, however." See attached plan of church taken from Westropp 1904-05. Compiled by: Denis Power Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 12 November 2018