Carrickkildavnet Castle & Church Co Mayo

                                              Above Image: The entrance stile

                                Above Image: Remains of a possible additional tower?

                                Above Image: One of the machicolations at roof level

                                                  Above Image: Entrance door

                         Above Image & Below 3 Images: Views of the vaulted ceiling

                                               Above Image: The Church ruin

                                                  Above Image: Entrance door

                                                  Above Image: The East gable

                                          Above Image: Stones left as offerings

                         Above Image: West gable with some of the "stations" plaques

This sturdy tower house stands on Achill Island at the very edge of Achill Sound which is an inlet leading in from Clew Bay. It was constructed approx. around 1429 by the O’Malley’s, a great seafaring clan and subsequently became a stronghold for one of their most famous descendants the pirate queen Grace O’Malley who was born about 100 years later and ruled the seas in this area at the time.
Grace had several castles dotted around the seaboard including the commanding Rockfleet (see post here ) and another on Clare Island, her birthplace. These would have be used as havens for her pirating activities.
The three storey tower house on Achill Island stands approx. 40ft high. When we visited it was a warm summer’s day and the location just absolutely shone. The castle is close to the water and to the adjacent roadside. It is accessed by a stone stile. The doorway is open and contains a revolving metal gate so you can easily walk inside. The first floor above has a vaulted ceiling with an aperture which would have contained a stairs which is missing so there is unfortunately no access at all to above levels. The castle contains several machiolations at top level around the outside and the partial remains of a bawn at ground level one part of which appears to be the remains of a possible adjacent round tower. The castle is in a very strategic position and must have been almost impossible to make a surprise attack upon. This would have course perfectly suited Grace O’Malley’s operations.
Just a short distance from the Castle are the ruins of Kildavnet Church. The construction date is a bit unclear and there are many speculations about it. It is certain that a church was founded here in the 7^th century by St Dympna thus giving the name Davnet to the site (Kil-Davnet, Church of Dympna) and that a 12^th century church was also constructed here but the appearance of this ruin would suggest a later date most likely in the 1700’s when a Fr McManus was minister in the area. Indeed another view is that Grace O’Malley was supposed to have founded a church in the 16^th century for the occupants of her castle to have a place of worship but this is certainly not it.
The graveyard contains some ancient stones but also two memorials. One is for the Clew Bay drowning of 1894 in which locals travelling by a small boat to Westport to meet a steamship to emigrate to Scotland drowned when the boat capsized. The other is for the Kirkintilloch fire in Glasgow of 1937 in which ten immigrant workers were killed when a fire engulfed the bothy (basically a large shed) in which they were sleeping. Their remains were returned to Achill for interment. Within the church some modern plaques have been placed which depict the Stations of the Cross and many visit the ruins to partake in the stations.
Both ruins are in a very picturesque location looking across the sound to the mainland with a backdrop of Corraun Hill.
To find the ruins tale the R319 from Mulranny (Malaranny) toward Achill Sound. Cross the bridge from the mainland to the island (It’s quite short). You will see Sweeney’s SuperValu on your right. About 1KM past the SuperValu you will see a left hand turn for the L1405. It has a sign pointing to “Atlantic Drive”. Turn left down this road and drive approx. 7KM and you will see the Church ruins on your left. The Castle is about 300m beyond. For parking drive past the Castle and park at the small pier a short distance from it which serves the Achill to Clare Island Ferry.

Old Killeshin Church Co Laois

                                                  Above Image: Entrance lane

                                                     Above Image: West gable

                                            Above Image: Romanesque doorway

                                                       Above Image: The font

                                             Above Image: Decorated capitals

                                                    Above Image: East gable

                                 Above & Below Images: Exterior & Interior views of
                                                                         late Gothic window
 

This site was of great ecclesiastical importance originating with a monastery founded possibly as early as the 6^th century and designated as a cultural and educational centre. Unfortunately the monastery was destroyed in the 11^th century. A round tower also stood on this site until 1703 when the land owner demolished it as he feared it unstable and might collapse killing the herd that grazed around it. It had stood at 105 feet making it the third tallest tower in Ireland after Kilmacduagh at 111 feet and Kildare at 108 feet (both previous posts). The ruins on the site today comprise of the West and East gables and partial North wall of a 12^th century Church but the ruins are made all the more interesting because of the ornate doorway that has survived intact. It is one of the most striking examples of Hiberno-Romanesque architecture to be seen in this country. The arch has a large decorated triangular shaped hood with the doorway having four orders with heads on the capitals with their hair intertwining. Just by this doorway there also is positioned a font dating from the late medieval times. In the East gable there is a single window which is late Gothic in style and so would place it as a subsequent addition or amendment to the original Church.
I found this unassuming ruin really worth the visit because of the fine doorway and would recommend it highly. Although close to Carlow Town it is actually just over the border into Co Laois. Access is easy off the main road by way of a lane way and graveyard enclosure gate. The Church sits slightly aloft affording picturesque views of the Barrow Valley.
To find the ruins take the R430 heading West from Carlow town and approx. 2.2KM along you will see a left hand turn for the L7914. (The modern Killeshin Church can be seen in the backround on the left) Turn onto the L7914 and then take the first right turn and once past the modern Church on the left you will spot the medieval ruins about 150m along on the right hand side. There is room to park a car adjacent to a field gate at the lane way leading to the Church.

Kilbride Pyramid Co Wicklow

                                                Above Image: Entrance track

                                       Above Image: First view of enclosure wall

                                    Above Image: Secondary pillared mausoleum

                                      Above Image: Stone plaque detailing origins




We went looking for a medieval church ruin and found a pyramid!
The old Kilbride graveyard just North of Arklow town is the subject of some ongoing restoration but on our visit the site was still fairly overgrown. The pyramid in question is part of the mausoleum of the Howards of Shelton Abbey which the poet laureate Sir John Betjeman apparently once described as the largest pyramid tomb beyond the banks of the Nile. It was commissioned by Ralph Howard in 1785 and stands roughly fifteen feet in height from its base to its summit. It is constructed using large granite blocks. The pyramid stands on the highest point in the graveyard giving it even more prominence. On a lower level beneath it there is a large pillared portico which looks to all intents and purposes as an entrance to the mausoleum but this in fact is a separate chamber to accommodate associated family members. The original entrance to the pyramid was on its North side which is now sealed up.
As I say we came to see a Church ruin but frankly we searched for it but couldn’t locate it. I’m assured it’s there somewhere but with all the overgrowth it was a trek enough to reach the pyramid. I am informed that in any case there are really only scant remains. However I will return here after the restoration is complete and attempt again to find it. The pyramid is in itself well worth seeing and there is also a plaque detailing its origins attached to it.
This pyramid building is not unique to Kilbride there are several dotted around the country but this is the largest. There is a similar but smaller version of this one in the grounds of Baltinglass Abbey (See previous post) belonging to the then prominent Stratford family and another in the graveyard adjacent to Kilcooley Abbey (also previous post).

To find the pyramid take the M11 Dublin to Wexford motorway and at Junction 20 take the exit and at the roundabout at the top of the exit ramp take the second exit onto the R772. Drive for approx. 1.8KM where you will need to take a turn right onto Beech Road which is part of and industrial park. There is a signpost pointing to Avoca River Park at the junction. Take this right turn and then the first left hand turn thereafter which is just past a small Texaco station. Follow this road around a bend to the right and then a bend to the left. The graveyard is a few yards up on the left opposite a series of semi-circular storage huts. The track starts adjacent to a field gate. You can park safely enough at this point.

Old Clonmantagh Church Co Kilkenny

                                                  Above Image: The East gable

                                               Above Image: Original entrance

                                                   Above Image: Twin bellcote

                                         Above Image: Have no idea what this is!

                                 Above Image & Below 2 Images: Views of the Castle
                                                                                       from the Church

There are few records regarding this larger than usual local medieval church. It is thought to have been constructed as early as the twelfth century and is adjacent to a later fifteenth century Butler tower stronghold which was restored in recent years and so is technically no longer a ruin. The farmhouse nestled at its base is now a B&B.
The church ruins stand within a trapezoidal stone enclosure with access through a twin pillared gate in the Southern wall. A clutter of gravestones are positioned mostly on its West, Northern and Southern sides with some dating back to the mid eighteenth century. The Western gable has an extended twin bellcote with one side partially crumbled away. The interior side of the tower gable shows evidence of the former apex roof. The Eastern gable though a bit ragged still stands to its full height and contains two long narrow windows. The church has somewhat sunk in to the ground so that the entrance in the Southern wall is now a smaller aperture but there is a larger aperture in the North wall. The view out from within the walls through this aperture perfectly frames the nearby castle tower. No graves have been placed within the Church and so the ground is grassy and uneven underfoot. I like the overall aspect of this Church as it has pleasing lines to the eye. While taking a photo outside of the Eastern gable something dashed through the section with longer grass near the enclosure wall. I decided in my mind that it was a rabbit or a hare but it could easily have been something nastier like a rat. I stuck to the shorter grass after that.
Well worth a stop to view as access is so easy and in an area that is well stocked with ruins. We also visited on the same day Urlingford Chuch & Castle (see post here) and Three Castles Church & Castle (see post here)
To find the ruins of Clonmantagh take the R693 heading West from Freshford towards Urlingford and drive for approx. 6.5KM You will eventually spot the ruins on your right hand side. You can park directly across the road in the hard shoulder. Be careful crossing though as this is a long straight country road and traffic tends to approach often and at speed.