Church (Site of) — Catherinestown

Situated on low rise of ground with good views in all directions with modern graveyard extension immediately to S. Site of building (WM026-035----) in field 220m to W, standing stone (WM026-036----) known locally as the 'Cloghstuckagh' 235m to NW, ringfort (WM026-038----) 185m to N, ringfort (WM026-039----) 130m to NNE and third ringfort (WM026-073----) 280m to SSE. In 1837 Thomas O'Conor of the Ordnance Survey recorded that in Catherinestown 'there are small remains of the walls of an old church in ruins' (OSL 14/G/14/5(11), vol. 2, 47). No church or graveyard is depicted on the 1657 Down Survey parish map of Lynn (NLI, MS 723-4). In 1867 Cogan (1867, 453) wrote that 'the old chapels of Marlonstown, Kenny, Kilronan, and Hopestown were pulled down. They are now graveyards'. Kilronan Church depicted on 1837 ed. OS 6-inch where it is shown standing in SE quadrant of Kilronan graveyard (WM036-037003-). On this map the S and E walls of the church formed the enclosing element of the graveyard. On the revised 1876 ed. OS 6-inch map the church building is depicted as 'Church Site of'. Church building possibly levelled between 1837 and 1876 editions of the OS maps. Low wall footings enclose a sunken area marks site of levelled church or chapel (approx. dims. 15m E-W x 6m N-S) in SE quadrant of graveyard. Several headstones have been erected on the footprint of the levelled church. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 January 2018