Church (in Ruins) — Portland

Situated on high ground in undulating countryside with extensive views. A rectangular late medieval church (ext. dims. 8.3m N-S; 9.86m E-W; wall T 1.13m) with a barrel-vaulted priest's chamber (ext. dims. 6.98m N-S; 8.91m E-W; wall T 1.3m) at the W end of church. The walls are constructed from roughly coursed limestone rubble with base-batter at the W end to support the barrel vault of the priest's chamber. There is a single-light ogee-headed window in the E gable with possible decorated spandrels. The side-walls and barrel-vaulted chamber have all been rebuilt by the OPW in 1990. A two-centred doorway was inserted into the S wall at the W end and a similar doorway has been inserted into the E wall of the priest's chamber. The two doorways and two slit windows in the E wall of the priest's chamber opening onto the W end of the church appear to be of modern date. According to local tradition the graveyard (TN004-008002) was located to the S of the church and was used as a burial ground until the early 1800s. All that survives of the graveyard is a slight scarp possibly indicating the graveyard boundary. There are no remains of any burial markers in the area to the S of the church. According to Gleeson (1951-2, 105) the church was a chantry rather than a parish church possibly associated with the MacEgan family and the graveyard, which was gone in his time, was used as a place for burying unbaptised children. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 22 September 2008