Adare Church (in Ruins) — Adare

Adare parish church dedicated to St. Nicholas described in the Urban Survey of County Limerick as following; 'A much modified nave and chancel church, probably originally 13th century. Between the nave and chancel is a gabled crossing wall with bell-cote above, while a later crossing wall was inserted c. 5m from the west end of the nave. The walls are practically intact, although rebuilt in many places. In the chancel (9.5m by 5.25m int.), the east gable is c. 6.25m high and the north and south walls c. 3.25m high; in the nave (22.65m by 7.55m int.) the gables are c. 7.5m high, with the bell-cote rising to c. 10m high, and the north and south walls are c. 4m high. The masonry is of roughly coursed limestone rubble, with undressed quoins, although some sandstone quoins occur in the south-east angles of nave and chancel. The south wall of the nave, the only wall whose base is exposed, has a low (c. 40cms) basal batter. The Chancel In the east wall is a tall (1.63m), narrow (16cm), round headed lancet with chamfered sandstone jambs, a round rear arch and widely splaying embrasure with sloping sill. In the south wall are two broader (27cm and 35cm) lancets, also with chamfered sandstone jambs but having holes for glazing bars. Both have modern arches, the window to the east has a round arch, with its original round rear arch, while that to the west (which may be completely rebuilt) has a flat arch with modern pointed rear arch. Between the windows is a small round-headed door with round rear arch, probably inserted. In the north wall is a pointed lancet with chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch, while to the east the blocked segmental rear arch of another window is visible, but no trace survives externally. The Nave The gabled east wall of the nave has a pointed .arch c. 3m high and 2m wide communicating with the chancel. The bell-cote above has two pointed openings beneath a gable and seems to be contemporary with the east wall. In the south wall, at the east end, is a single-light cusped ogee-headed window with chamfered limestone jambs and flat-lintelled rear arch, below which is a rectangular wall-cupboard. West of this are three large openings, now blocked, two of which have red brick jambs, with a blocked segmental-arched opening, probably a door, between the last two. Further west is a large blocked window with segmental rear arch, under which a modern round headed doorway has been inserted. In the west gable is a tall, splayed rectangular window with undressed jambs, which are probably replacements, and lacking its rear arch. In the north wall, near the west end, some unchamfered sandstone jambs are visible; these derive from a round headed lancet recorded by Hewson (1955, 53-4). Further east are a pointed doorway with modern chamfered limestone jambs and segmental rear arch which may be original, a large blocked rectangular window with flat rear arch, and faint traces of another window at the east end, where the wall is largely rebuilt. A later gabled crossing wall has been inserted c. 5m from the west end of the nave. It has a centrally placed pointed arched opening c. 2m high and 1.3m wide with flat relieving arch above, at ground level. At the north end is a large blocked rectangular opening c. 2.5m above ground level' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 15-17). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 11 December 2018