Ballyduagh Church (in ruins) — Ballyduagh (railstown Par.)

On a low rise of ground in undulating terrain, with an area of wet, marshy ground immediately to the W of the graveyard, in pasture. Ballyduagh 17th-century house (TS061-095003-) is visible 150m to the S. The remains of an undivided church (dims. 18.3m E–W; c. 9m N–S) are placed off-centre to the N in a square graveyard (TS061-095008-). The church, which is in a ruinous state, is composed of limestone rubble, roughly coursed with very little mortar visible. The W gable and side walls (T 1m) survive only two courses high (max. H of 0.4m above the int. and 0.35m above ext.). The E gable (T 1.1m; H 06m above int.) is slightly higher, however, the centre of this gable appears to be levelled and a crucifixion on a stepped plinth has been built here. The walls are overgrown with grass and ivy. There is a gap (Wth 2m) for a doorway roughly mid-way along the S wall. There is a limestone corbel in the graveyard which suggests that the church may have had a gallery. There is a headstone in the church interior which does not have a legible inscription but appears to date to c. 1800. A chamfered slab embedded within the church is similar to one in the graveyard and it is possible that these are portions of a 17th-century graveslab/s or are remains of the altar. The church was in a poor state of survival in 1840 when the OSL describe that only a fragment of the W gable was standing and 'The windows of this Church were constructed of cut limestones, of which several are to be seen scattered around the graveyard' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 81 (216-17). According to White (1892, 104) the E gable was 'taken by the herdsmen of the tenant of the adjoining lands to make up gaps in the fences!'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 12 December 2011