Church (in Ruins) — Nenagh North

Situated at the S end of the town of Nenagh with the Franciscan friary (TN020-037002) and castle (TN020-037001) to the N and NW respectively. The eighteenth-century church which was rebuilt in the nineteenth century and is now disused was possibly built on the site of an earlier church which is described as being in a ruinous condition in 1615 (Sheehan 1949, 39). This Royal Visitation of 1615 described the church as 'ruynous, chancell downe' (Murphy 1914, 218). The precise location of the medieval parish church is unknown. According to Gleeson the Parish church of Nenagh was founded by St Colman (Gleeson 1982, 148) and is mentioned in a deed of c. 1217-21, the advowson being jointly held between the Butlers and the abbots of Abingdon, Co. Limerick (Bradley 1985, 52). According to the OS Letters 'not a vestige' of the parish church (TN020-037007) now remains 'but it is probable that the modern Church of Nenagh stands near or on its site. This was built about twenty six years ago, close by the site of a former, but comparatively modern Church, til then in use' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 99). The reference goes on to describe how at 'the rear of Barrack Street, about sixty paces north of the Church of Nenagh, and between it and the old Abbey …Mr. Rd. Burr of this town discovered, at the depth of about eighteen inches from the surface of the ground, the foundation stones of some old building. The north and south walls were about thirty feet in length [9m], about twenty feet [6m] from each other and were connected at the east end by a wall, the form of which was that of a curve or segment of a circle, less than a semi-circle. The stones of these old walls which were four or five feet [1.2-1.5m] in thickness have been entirely removed. At this spot was dug up a ring-seal of bronze'. The present church tower was built in 1760 onto the body of the church which existed in the seventeenth century, this church was rebuilt in 1809. The earliest headstone noted, lying broken against the S wall of the graveyard, dates to 1730. There were two other eighteenth-century headstones noted but the majority are nineteenth century. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of upload: 22 September 2008