churches historical ireland

The name may mean - church of the Canons - or may refer to St Gregory Cheannfhionnadh (the - fair-headed - ). St Gregory's name is also commemorated in Sundra Ghriora, Gregory's Sound, the channel between Inis Meain and Inis Mor. The church is a typical 8th-9th century stone building, and is complete except for the roof, which must have been wood-framed. It is surrounded by grave slabs and it was here that the island buried its people until fifty years ago....

Small ruined 10th-Century church near lighthouse. Always accessible....

A 12th century romanesque church consisting of a nave and chancel. The doorway has been much tampered with (possibly in the 16th century when the innermost order of the doorway was constructed). Over the window above the doorway is a sculptured panel showing the meeting of two people-it may have formed part of the original doorway, as at Freshford. Note the worn heads above the doorway; one is said to represent St. Moling, the founder of the church, and the other is said to be St. Fiacre. Th...

St. Patrick placed St. Cianan over the first church here in the 5th century. St. Cianan, who is credited with the building of the first stone church in Ireland, died in 489 and his body was said to have been preserved without decay. The monastery was plundered at least 10 times between 830 and 1149. The bodies of King Brian Boru and the other heroes slain at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 rested here for a night before being brought to Armagh for burial. Duleek became the centre of a diocese...

Croagh Patrick is located about 8km from Westport on the Louisburgh Road. Croagh Patrick is a sacred and beautiful hill. From most points of view, it rises from the sea on the southern shore of Clew Bay as a perfect cone to the height of 764 metres (2,510 feet). There are larger and loftier masses of mountain in Ireland, but none so striking from its isolation....

Temple Jarlath is situated near the town centre. It marks the site of an early monastic settlement dedicated to St Jarlath, Tuam's 6th century patron. The surviving ruins include a late 13th century parish church containing an east window in Transitional style.

A late medieval tower stands at the west end of the church. The 18th century O' Connor Donellan chapel is attached to the north wall. Temple Jarlath was traditionally the town graveyard but has been closed for burials since 1884/...

Standing in a secluded grove of fir trees by the Glendassan river, 1 km east of the "city" by way of the Green road, the Priory of St. Saviour is said to have been founded in 1162 by St. Laurence O'Toole. The association of the Priory with the saint is borne out by the fact that its location is called Glenlorcan. The Priory has been beautifully restored by the Office of Public Works and is now a much-admired example of Irish-Romanesque architecture....

St. Senan, who died in 544, founded his monastery here in the first half of the 6th century. One of his pupils was St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. The monastery was ravaged by the Vikings in 816 and again in 835, and was probably even occupied by them from 972 to 975, but was recaptured by Brian Boru. The most conspicuous part of the old monastery is the Round Tower, 120 feet high, which is unusual in that the door is at ground level.

Just to the east of the tower is the Cathedral, a chu...

A long rectangular 12th century church. The west doorway is flat-headed but has Romanesque moulding on the outside and a round arch inside, and also holes which held the bars to lock the door. Two round-headed windows in the east wall have hood-mouldings on the outside supported by pillars. There are also some old gravestones, a water font and an unfinished granite cross. Little is known about the history of the place other than that the monastery was possibly founded in the early 6th centur...

Little is known about the history of the place, but a monastery may have been founded here by St. Abban, though it is also connected with other saints. Near the road is a 12th or 13th century church with antae, and with an unusual pointed east window which is off-centre. The west end would seem to have been added on later, as were possibly the other buildings to the north and south of the church, of which only the foundations remain. A few hundred yards to the north-north-east is a larger chu...