Church (in Ruins) — Killarecastle

Medieval church ruins known locally as ‘Temple Brigid’ (Woods 1907, 248). It has been suggested that this church may have been originally dedicated to St. Aodh [Hugh] (Ó Riain 2011, 67). However the nearby church (WM024-057----) to the SE is traditionally believed to be the site of St. Aodh's Church. Killare (Cill Áir/Fháir) also known as Ballyhugh (Nicholls 1994, vol. 3, 343) was founded in the late 6th century by Áed [Hugh] mac Bricc who built three churches at Killare, these were St. Aedh's Church (WM024-057----), Temple Brigid and 'aula' [hall/court] of St. Brigid (WM024-054003-) (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 392). Situated on low undulating poorly drained land, with stream 20m to E and the Hill of Ushnagh/Uisneach 1.4km to NE. An area of marsh land which acted as a millpond is located immediately to the NE of the church. Nearby monuments include field ringfort (WM029-049001-), field system (WM024-049002-) and possible castle site (WM024-049003-) in field immediately to N, St. Brigid’s holy well (WM024-054002-) with motte & bailey castle (WM024-053----) 10m and 250m to E respectively, Killare church (WM024-057----) and graveyard (WM024-057001-) 300m to SE and ringfort (WM024-052----) 400m to SW. Post-medieval corn mill with mill-race 480m to NE as depicted on the OS 6-inch map. This church was located beside a medieval roadway which ran to the N of the church as depicted on the 1656-9 Down Survey map of Killare parish (NLI MS 723-4). On this map a roadway is depicted in the field to the N of the church running towards the stone castle (WM024-049003-) of Killare. Annotated 'Ch. Ruin' standing beside a well on an estate map dating from 1828 (NLI, MS 21 F. 48 (024) ). According to Lewis (1837, 126) a ‘religious house was founded here at a very early period, and subsequently became the head of a small see, of which St. Aid [Aodh of Ráith Aodha/Hugh of Rahugh] is said to have been bishop in 588’. Aodh of Rahugh (WM038-041----) was also the patron of the churches as Killare (Ceall Áir) and Slieve League (DG090-004001-), Co. Donegal (Ó Riain 2011, 66). Aodh was son of Cormac Breac of the Cinéal Fiachach of Moycashel, his mother was Eithne of the Múscraighe Tíre in Ormond [North Tipperary] (ibid., 66-7). Aodh was reputedly born in the townland of Killare. The ninth-century Life of Brighid of Kildare mentions that Aodh cured Brighid who is currently the patron saint of Killare and whose holy well is located to the E of a small church (ibid.) Aodh’s feastday is traditionally celebrated on the 10th of November but was also commemorated on the 28th of February, 4th of May and 16th of November (ibid., 68). These church ruins were known locally as St. Brigid’s Church. Described in the 19th century as ‘the old church (WM024-057---) measures sixty feet (18.3m) by twenty (6m). About twenty or thirty perches north-east of Killare are the ruins of St. Bridget’s Chapel; length, thirty-nine feet (11.9m) by nineteen (5.8m). Two ash trees spread their branches over the site of the altar. St. Bridget’s Well (WM024-054002-) is still pointed out, shaded by an ash tree, and is still an object of reverence’ (Cogan 1867, 494). According to Colgan, ‘there were three churches at Killare, the first dedicated to St. Aedh was parochial (WM024-057----), the next was called Temple Brigid, and the third the Court of St. Brigid (WM024-054003-)’ (Woods 1907, 249). Colgan also recorded that ‘there was also three fountains or wells, the water of which uniting miraculously together turned a neighbouring mill. One of the wells was dedicated to St. Aedh, the second to St. Brigid, and the third very probably to St. Conran [Cuman]’ (ibid.). Present remains consist of the poorly preserved ruins of an ivy-covered single-cell undivided rectangular church which is currently fenced off. The walls of the church are built with coursed rubble with undressed corner stones. The SE corner of the E gable is the best preserved wall of the church but is currently covered in ivy making detailed examination impossible. The N and S walls of the church stand to a height of c. 1m, while the W wall stands 5 courses high approx. height of c. 1.5m. Opposing gaps in the N and S walls located off centre to W mark the position of opposing doorways. No architectural features visible in the W wall. Low grass-covered wall footings of possible buildings of unknown date can be seen in the field to the S and W of the church. No evidence of any graveyard or any sign of burials in the vicinity of the church. Remains of a mill-stone have been incorporated into rockery belonging to nearby holy well. Cut stone architectural fragments belonging to the medieval church have been reused as features in the landscaped surrounds of St. Brigid’s holy well (WM024-054002-). These fragments include the remains of a late medieval ogee-headed window along with other chamfered stones. Described in 1837 as a ‘ruin of very great antiquity, with a well dedicated to St. Bridget’ (Lewis 1837, 126). A black and white photograph of the church then known as ‘St Brigid’s Church’ shows the condition of the E gable of the church which at the time was partially upstanding with a large tree growing up in the centre of the church (Woods 1907, 248-9). A pile of stones at the base of the gable marks the collapse of the N end of this gable. It has been suggested that the curve in the townland boundary 160m to the NE of the church represents the remains of a possible ecclesiastical enclosure (Swan 1988, 22). However the presence of a mill pond in this area and the lack of a cropmark in the adjoining field suggests that the curve in the townland boundary does not represent the remains of an ecclesiastical enclosure. Monument recorded by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland in 1976 and described as following; ‘The church (int. dims. 12m E-W; 6m N-S; wall T 0.9m) remains consist of the low wall footings and foundations. These are built of well selected stone with good cornerstones. There are door openings in the N & S walls at the W end. These have dressed jambs, the opening in the N wall has a rebate and that on the S a chamfer. There is much collapse within and outside small modern altercations have been added to one of the walls to form a rockery arrangement. Portion of the S wall stands to same height as also the E gable. The well (WM024-054002-) is directly to E of the church.’ (SMR File 20/04/1976). See attached B/W photo showing condition of church c. 1907, taken from Woods, J. (ed.) 1907 The Annals of Westmeath. See attached plan of earthworks to N of church and holy well surveyed by Archaeological Survey of Ireland (SMR File). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 18 July 2014 This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 4/1986).