Nunnery — Nun's Island

Church ruins standing inside possible ecclesiastical enclosure (WM015-010----) located on low rise of ground on Nun's Island in Lough Ree. The island of Inchmore containing the ruins of a medieval church (WM015-011----) lies 1.6km to the E. In 1641 the nuns of the order of St. Clare who had a convent (WM015-002---) in the townland of Bethlehem close to the shoreline of Lough Ree, fled their foundation and took temporary refuge from Cromwellian forces on this island where there was an existing medieval church (Gilbert 1879, 58). The island may have been later renamed Nun's Island. The original nunnery (WM015-002----) in Bethlehem is located 7km to the NE of Nun’s Island. Griffith’s valuation of 1854 lists Michael Fenoran as the only person living in a house on Nun’s Island, this house may have been the building located immediately E of the church. Present remains consist of a medieval church (ext. dims. 10.2m E-W; 6.7m N-S; wall T 0.9m) located in the N quadrant of Nun's Island. The medieval church ruins appear to be standing inside an irregular shaped enclosure (WM015-010----) defined by a drystone wall now covered in ivy and scrub vegetation making detailed examination impossible. This irregular-shaped enclosure which may be contemporaneous with the church and could be the remains of an ecclesiastical enclosure. The enclosure is depicted as an irregular shaped field boundary on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. The poorly preserved building is currently covered in ivy and brambles making detailed examination of the church impossible. The W gable which stands to full height is covered externally with ivy which makes examination of this wall impossible. The W wall is constructed with coursed rubble built with small thin slabs with evidence of a foundation plinth protruding from the base of the gable. Internally on the W wall there is evidence of render and two small wooden beam holes that may have supported some form of wooden structure perhaps a stair. No window or any window opening visible on internal face of W gable. The interior of the church is covered with collapsed rubble and scrub vegetation. At a distance of 5.25 metres E from the W gable are the remains of a low partition wall (H 0.7m; wall T 0.6m) covered in ivy and scrub vegetation which may have been inserted into the building at a later date. The N wall stands to a height of c. 1.1m and is also covered in ivy. The ivy covered E gable which stands to full height has a blocked up round-headed window (H 1.3m; Wth 0.2m) in the centre of the gable with possible remains of an ope or aumbry (W 0.55m; H 2m) beneath this window. The possible aumbry appears to have been inserted into the wall at a later date and does not appear to be contemporary with the E window. Very little remains upstanding of the S wall. Immediately to the E of the church are the remains of a small building (wall T 0.5m) or house also covered in ivy and scrub vegetation which appears to be post-medieval in date and may be contemporaneous with the partition wall that has been inserted into the W end of the church. The blocking up of the E window of the church may have occurred when this building was constructed. A drystone wall running off the NW and SW angles of the church appear to be post-medieval in date and could be contemporaneous with the post medieval house to the E of the church. The church was previously surveyed by the ASI in 1976 and described as following: 'The small island is covered with a thick growth of scrub and trees. The church ruins are located toward the northern end of the island and are enclosed by a roughly built but strong stone wall some 3.50m wide on N side. The wall is much tumbled of approx. heart-shaped plan with a number of internal walls of lesser proportions probably later in date. The church ruins are covered in ivy and the only surviving features - a fine 12th/13th cent. window - is in a state of near collapse. The church itself is of small rectangular plan with an opening on the S wall towards W end (see plan). There is a roughly built narrow internal division which appears to be later and possibly related to the hut ruins outside at the NE corner. Both the E and W gables of the church survive. Portions of the N wall and of somewhat less of the S wall (gapped) still survive. The masonry is rough but shaped and there are traces of mortar. The gap in the internal wall at N is a modern 'doorway'. The walling to south of church forms an attached rectangular plan but is probably related to the hut site and the later lay occupation. The window in situ in the E gable has diagonal tooling on its internal dressings. Its lower dressings have been reset. Plain round-headed window head (see sketch). Collapsed masonry all around church' (SMR File 31/08/1976). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 July 2014