churches historical ireland

Teampall Beanan (Temple Benan) near Arkin Castle and higher up, prominently silhouetted on the skyline, is the small church of Saint Benan dating from early Christian times....

Nothing is known about the early history of the island, but in 1220 the Cistercians from Knockmoy, Co. Galway (q.v.) established a cell here. The 'Abbey' church consists of a nave and chancel as well as a sacristy. There were other buildings to the north of the church, but these have vanished. The church does not appear to date from the period of foundation, but from about 1500. The most unusual feature of the church are the paintings in the chancel, which are some of the very few medieval...

A simple rectangular church of 12th century date, with later additions. There is a simple round-headed doorway with Romanesque mounding in the west wall, while the 12th century south door was altered later....

At Saul, itself, a Celtic revival style Anglican church (with a round tower adjoining the chancel) on the site of an important twelth century monastery is where St Patrick's abbey is thought to have bee. In the churchyard is an early Christian mortuary house. Built in 1932 by the Church of Ireland to commemorate the fifteenth centenary of the saint's landfall, the church contains a thirteenth century font basin and a small, informative permanent exhibition....

This, the most westerly of the ancient churches, is situated on a small ledge 8 metres above the Upper Lake. Though modified over the centuries, the style of the surrounding original eastern twin-window suggests great antiquity and it is possible the Church was associated with St. Kevin himself in the seventh century. Excavations coducted here at the beginning of the century led to the discovery of much ash, charcoal and debris, lending further credence to the belief that this was originally a...

A well-preserved round Tower which is lower and fatter than most examples. It had a round-headed doorway (now blocked up), and flat - and gable-headed windows. The church beside it, although built in the 18th century, incorporates a 16th century mullioned window and a small plaque with the Crucifixion dated 1625. The first church here was founded by St. Patrick and, because of this, the Archbishops of Armagh long claimed jurisdiction over it. But in 1351 the Pope authorised the Archbishop of...

Donough Cairbreach O'Brien, King of Thomond, founded a friary for the Franciscans here early in the 13th century, but the present church was probably not begun until 1471, only to be burned the following year. After the Suppression in 1541, it was sold to John of Desmond. Sir Humphrey Gilbert's horsemen burned the church once more in 1569, and the friars who had stayed on were massacred in 1570. It suffered little damage when police tried to blow it up in 1921. The church is a simple nave-a...

Labbamolaga is derived form the irish Leaba Molaga, meaning "bed or resting place "of St. Molaga.This is represented by a large slab that is located in the small church. It is said that if someone with rehumatism sleeps under this slap they will be cured.
 
On the site of a monastery founded by St. Molaga who lived in the 7th century, there is a small primitive-looking church with antae and a flat-headed doorway made of 3 stones. near the south wall of the...

Donal Mor O'Brien founded a church on this island in the Shannon estuary for the Augustinian Canons some time towards the end of the 12th century. In the 15th century a tower was built to the south of the nave, and two chapels were added. Most of the domestic buildings are of the same period; they comprise a sacristy next to the church, a chapter room in the east side, and a kitchen, a pantry and refectory on the ground floor of the south wing. There were no buildings in the western portion....

Popularly known as "St. Kevin's Kitchen" and consisting of a church, cell and watch-tower, this is the most interesting and best-preserved of the church-remains at Glendalough. Boasting a remarkable corbelled stone roof, it has been traditionally associated with having been built by Kevin himself, as an oratory and dormitory, in the sixth century. Analysis of the style of architecture, however, tends to suggest that considerable alterations may have been undertaken during the eight and...