Kilmucklin Church (in ruins) — Shanballymore

On a hillock, in improved pasture. The church is located in the N quadrant of a poorly preserved, roughly circular enclosure, probably a graveyard (TS059-042001-). The church of ‘Kilmynghen’ is mentioned in the Papal Taxation records of 1306c (Ó Cearbhaill 2007, 168). This very ruinous church, orientated E-W, consists of a rectangular area (dims. 18m E-W; 8m N-S) defined by a grassed-covered stone wall (Wth 3.3-4.3m; int. H 0.25-0.3m; ext. H 0.2-0.35m, L 18m at N; 8m at E) which is very low on the S side (L 12-16m; Wth 2.7m; int. H 0.15m; ext. H 0.15m) and almost levelled out at the SW angle. Rubble from the collapsed wall (L 3.5-4m; Wth 1m; max. H 0.85m) is exposed at the W end of the N side and masonry of a low portion of wall (L c. 2m) was noted amongst dense briars at the W. A window mentioned in the OS Letters was not visible (O'Flanagan 1930, 60). A large mound of grass-covered stone occupies most of the interior and dense briar thicket obscures the W end. A curvilinear bank (Wth 3m; int. H 0.2m; ext. H 0.25m) adjoining the E gable encloses a small area (dims. 8m N-S straight side; 8m E-W). According to local information, the ruins of the church were robbed of stone in the past. It is named as 'Kilmucklin Church' on the 1st (1840) ed. OS 6-inch map within an eastern extension of Glebe townland. The townland boundary was changed between then and 1904, when this portion of Glebe became incorporated in Shanballymore townland. According to White (1892, 62), 'Kilmiclon' church signified 'Little Saint Michael's Church'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011