Outlined — Killadoughran

Situated on a low hillock in undulating grassland with good views. Lough Nacarrick and castle (WM009-091---) 100m NNE and 240m NE respectively. Ringfort (WM008-89----) and glebe land of church 190m to SW. Only the lower walls survive of a medieval church ruins of Killadoughran also known as 'Culhotocran' or 'Colloghdoghran' (Brooks 1936, 176; Mac Niocaill 1992, 408, 422) standing in S quadrant of polygonal shaped graveyard (WM008-090001-) as depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. The church ruins were described in the 19th century as following; 'The old sanctuary measures fifty-seven feet [17.37m] by nineteen [5.8m]. In the east end of the nave there is a headstone to the memory of a Capuchin friar' (Cogan 1862-70, 413). The walls of the church are best preserved at NW corner (max. H 2m) and N wall of the nave and part of the S wall of the nave, elsewhere only the grass covered wall footings survive. Where visible the walls are built with rough undressed stone laid in irregular courses. The original plan of the church is uncertain, it appears to have been a single cell church with later chapel added on to E end of church in the post-medieval period. The wall thickness of this chapel suggests a post-medieval date for its construction. It has been suggested that this was instead a nave and chancel church but this seems to be an incorrect interpretation of the surviving church ruins which are difficult to examine due to their poor condition and vegetation cover. Present remains consist of a single cell church (ext. dims. 6.34m N-S; 11.1m E-W; wall T 1.2m) aligned ENE-WSW with doorway at W end of the S wall. A chapel (ext. dims. 4.53m N-S; 6m E-W; wall T 0.5m) was added onto the E end of church giving a nave and chancel type plan to the church ruins in the post medieval period. The chancel is narrower than the nave and the junction between the two sections of the church are obscured by vegetation cover. This chapel at the E end is at a lower level than the rest of the church which suggests that this part of the building is not a chancel but a later chapel built against the external face of the E wall of the church. The interior of the church contains 19th century graves. Two cut stone fragments from the church can be seen in the surrounding graveyard. To the S of the SW corner of the church there are two pieces of cut stone set upright in the ground. One of these is rectangular with one of the long edges having mouldings along it and possibly was part of a window sill. The other fragment has an oval cross section with raised ribs on both broad faces and possibly formed part of a window mullion. To the E of the chancel lying in the graveyard is a fine carved stone probably the base for a font. It has a small central perforation surrounded by a raised quatrefoil with two carved mouldings of circular plan with pointed (rose) projections. A medieval font (WM008-090003-) was removed from church some years ago. According to local information two other decorated stones are known but now gone from the church and graveyard. One from the “Court” on natural hillock to the E. This apparently was some form of stone head. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 April 2017