St. Conlans Church (in ruins) — Youghalvillage

St. Conlan’s medieval parish church ruins of Youghal (Eochaill/Yew-wood) stands in the N quadrant of a large graveyard (TN014-045003-) on the crest of a hill with good views of the surrounding countryside. St. Conlan's Well (TN014-044001-) and holy tree (TN014-044001-) stands 370m to the NE. The 1302-06 Ecclesiastical Taxation of the Diocese of Killaloe recorded that the 'Church of Rothill [Yothill, or Yoghalura]' had an annual value of 20s. with the tithe valued at 2s.' (Cal. doc. Ire., Vol. 5, 301). In 1511 John O'Hogan, a cleric of the diocese of Killaloe is mentioned in association with the Rectory of Youghalarra [aka Eochaill Duithe Ara] which was now part of the union of Burgess (TN025-038001-) and Youghal and sometimes called Ballywilliam (Gleeson and Costello 1943, 95). The Royal Visitation of the Diocese of Killaloe recorded in 1615 that the Rectory of Youghalarra was a parcel of the Rectory of Musea (?Monsea TN020-028001-), with the Vicarage being a parcell attached to the Vicarage of Finnoe (TN010-020001-). Piers Butler was listed at this time as the incumbent vicar of Youghalarra (Murphy and Ormond 1914, 219). The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Tipperary recorded that on the lands of ‘Youghill’ (Youghal) ‘stands the Church of Youghill Parish’ (Simington 1934, 138). The Civil Survey recorded that in 1640 the Vicar of the Parish of Youghal was the owner of 1 acre of glebeland which was valued at 5s. per annum and was described as ‘lying on the north of the Church of Yeoghill & is fenced about with a ditch’ and is ‘totally wast[e]’ (ibid. 394). The patron of Youghalarra is St. Coelan of Iniscaltra (Gleeson and Costello 1943, 95). In 1837 the church remains were described as ‘the ruins of an oratory, supposed to have been a place of worship of the O’Brien family; and on a part of the well of the old church is the figure of a head, with the inscription “St. Coonna, 434.” A well near it is called St. Coulan’s [TN014-044001-]’ (Lewis 1837, 730). St. Conlan’s church ruins were described in 1840 as follows; ‘It is a building of brownish and reddish grit stone, and lime and sand mortar. On the interior, the surface of the walls presents a structure of small and long stones, all as much as possible, particular the latter class, are shaped into the form of the quadrangular. Some, however, are shapeless or polygonal, but all are dressed either with the chisel or the hammer. The East gable is pulled down lower than the height of the S side wall. The part of south wall next E. gable retains the original height; the part next west gable is not the original height, and some of it consists only of the stones thrown loosely together after having been disturbed from their cemented state. The west gable is very nearly destroyed, almost to the foundation in the middle part. Two small portions, one attached to South, and one to North wall, remain reduced to a very low height. A portion of North wall attached to the above portion of west gable mentioned as at it, runs to more than half the length of the whole building Eastwards, and retains the original height, excepting at the ends. The part of North wall now seen attached to East gable is not on a line with the part mentioned as standing next West gable. The length of the building on the interior is 73 feet [22.25m]; the breadth along west-gable, is 21 feet 10 inches [6.65m]; along East gable, is 25 feet 4 inches [7.7m], the part of the North wall at this end, being placed 3 feet 6 inches [1m] outwards beyond the line of the interior surface of the part of N. wall at west end. The height of the part of the East gable between window on it, and N. wall is 7½ feet [2.3m]. The height of the part of the gable between window and S. wall is about 8½ feet [2.6m]. A gap at SE corner at top, the gable being broken there. On E gable within 12 feet 7 inches [3.8m] of N wall, and …. feet of S wall, was a window now opened above, the gable being demolished so far from above. The S side is the more perfect. The interior was built of chiselled grit stone, being masonwork, and measures……. in breadth at bottom. It was placed very the present surface of the ground and the side were levelled off. On the outside, it is 5 feet 2 inches [1.6m] from the ground, & 1 foot 9½ inches [0.54m] in breadth. One stone remains at bottom of the N side, the stone crossing the bottom of the window remains and has the place of a mullion chiselled on it. Four stones remains in S side. The sides had flutings consisting of 3 channels each. The length of S side wall from E gable retaining the original height 10 feet [3m], is 41 feet [12.5m]. The thickness of this part is 3 feet 10 inches [1.16m]. Attached to the 41 feet [12.5m] in length, 6 feet [1.8m] in length, being but 2 feet 8 inches [0.8m] in height, and 3 feet 4 inches [1m] in thickness. The thickness of the 41 [12.5m] feet in length, project 6 inches [0.15m] at ground, beyond the thickness of the 6 feet [1.8m] in length on the exterior. The projecture in middle is 4 inches [0.1m], and terminates at the height of 3 feet 9 inches [1.1m], in an extent of 2 inches [0.05m]. On the exterior of the 6 feet [1.8m] in length, is the block (being the root still holding its place) of a large ash tree, which has been felled down some time ago. In the S wall at E gable (3 feet [0.9m] from it) is placed a recess of chiselled grit stone not perfectly circular, top being rather a low arch. It is placed low, and is 3 feet 5 inches [1m] now in height, 2 feet 4 inches [0.7m] in breadth, and 1 foot 6 inches [0.45m] in depth. At the distance of 1 foot 8 inches [0.5m] from the recess is placed a window on S wall. It is quadrangular inside, having flags placed across the top, and is masonwork (the stone being grit). It is 2 feet [0.6m] from flag stones placed on interior under it, and is 3 feet 4 inches [1m] broad, and 4 feet 8 inches [1.4m] high. On a stone in the E side on interior, are engraved a cross, and the figure of an angel. On the outside, it is 1 foot 8 inches [0.5m] from the ground, 8 inches [0.2m] in breadth, and 3 feet, near 7 inches [1.1m], in height, and has a circular top, being constructed of chiselled grit stone, and bevelled. At each side of the window on the exterior, runs a stone wall from the surface of the S wall of the church. The one at East side, has its exterior surface on a line with the exterior surface of the E gable of the church, and is injured on the interior, and seemingly lost part of its original length. It is now 10 feet, 9 inches [3.3m] long; and is on the exterior about 10 feet [3m] high, which height only 4 feet [1.2m] of the 10 feet [3m] in length it retains. The thickness of it, is 3 feet 10 inches [1.16m]. At the distance of 14 feet [4.26m] from it to west, stands the other wall evidently built up against the surface of the sidewall of the church, after the erection of the latter, and standing visibly quite distinct from its work. The length of this wall at present is 8 feet [2.4m]; the height on the exterior is 9 feet [2.74m]. On a stone is the surface of S wall of the church, on exterior, and to west of the last mentioned wall described as running out from the S side, is chiselled a figure of a human head with the following letter and date inscribed under the right side of the face ST. COEA NE 433 , under these letters, is inscribed a cross and on another stone under left side of the face of the figure above mentioned as that of a human head, are chiselled two figurines of human beings, and over them to E is chiselled apparently the figure of an angel. The length of the gap in South wall from the 6 feet [1.8m] in length of it above mentioned as being 2 feet 8 inches [0.8m] in height, to the part of S wall mentioned above as consisting of loosened stones built up without cement, is 8 feet 7 inches [2.6m]. Length of the part of S wall consist of the loosened stones, is 11 feet [3.35m], to which, 5 feet [1.5m] in length of th