Kilranelagh Church in ruins — Colvinstown Upper

Situated high on the NW slope of Colvinstown hill with wide views from S-W-N. Surrounded by forestry on all sides except S. Foundations of an undivided church (dims. 15m x 4m) within a small D-shaped enclosure (dims. 53m E-W; 41m N-S) which in turn is situated inside the E edge of a much larger enclosure (dims. 120.5m N-S; 113.5m E-W). The church walls (H c. 0.5-0.8m) are heavily overgrown and the E end has been divided off as a family plot. The visible headstones both inside and outside the smaller D-shaped enclosure are 18th to twentieth century in date and while there are a few recent burials, it is largely disused. Price mentions a feature known locally as 'the Gates of Heaven' (OPW Survey 1945), which he suggests might be the remains of a megalithic tomb, but which is almost certainly a stile between the small enclosure and the outer one. The outer enclosure is oval in shape and follows the line of the townland boundary from SE to NW. It is defined N-E-S by an earthen bank (Wth 1.5-2m; int. H 1.4-1.7m; ext. H c. 1.6m), with internal and external stone facing from N-E and external facing only from E-S. At the W it is defined by a stone wall (Wth 60m; int. H 0.5-1m; ext. H 1.2-1.6m). A road runs through the site in a N-S direction and there is a holy well (WI027-034003-) in the N portion of the site E of this road. According to O'Toole (1890), Diarmuid, son of Aodh Ó Tuathail (Lord of Imail, slain in 1376), was elected in his father's place 'in the old romantic burial ground of Kilranelagh'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008