Church (in Ruins) — Kilvarnet North

On top of a low narrow ridge of undulating elevated ground flanked by flat valleys of damp pasture and bog; just N of the centre of the older part of Kilvarnet graveyard (SL032-034002-) and within a possible ecclesiastical enclosure (SL032-034003-). The ruin of a rectangular church (int. 10.9m E-W; 5.95m N-S) built of uncoursed limestone in a lime mortar. Much of the N wall has fallen as has the top half of the E gable and the point of the W gable. It is entered through a very ruinous doorway, W of the centre, in the S wall. The interior is lit by two windows in the E gable, a central window high up on the W gable, and a window near the E end of the S wall. Only the lower portions of the E windows survive. These are identical embrasures, set side by side, each with a single light which has a right-angle rebate on its external edge. There is a similar rebate on the light in the W window (missing one of its jambstones) which has a pointed arch; the embrasure itself is covered by a rounded arch. There is a similar window embrasure in the S wall, which is missing the head and the E jamb of the light. Between the latter window and the SE corner is a recess (Wth 0.5m; H 0.85m) covered by a rounded arch which was probably a piscina though its basin is missing. On the line of the N wall is a pile of loose stones. The interior is covered by scrub overgrowth. Most of the E end is occupied by two 20th-century grave-plots, and there are two 19th-century headstones just W of the centre. This is the ruin of the medieval parish church of Kilvarnet which, according to Jordan (1996, 1) was founded by the O'Hara family of Annaghmore. It has been identified as the parish church recorded in the Papal taxation lists of 1302-06 where the Knights Templars are given as rectors (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 331). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008