A guide to the best and sometimes off the beaten track historical ruins around Ireland and how to get there.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Old Kilternan Church Co Dublin
Here's an interesting little ruin worth a visit if you happen to be in the Kilternan/Enniskerry area.This is the original parish Church of Kilternan. It is first listed as a parish in records dating from 1406, but the church itself was probably built in the 12th century. In 1630 the parish was conjoined with Bray and the land passed to the Fitzwilliam family. The church no longer in use soon fell into ruin.Curiously enough the grounds and the interior of the church remained in use as a burial ground with stones dating back to at least the 1700's. It is named today The Bishops Lane Burial Ground as not to confuse with the Blue Roman Catholic Church and The Church of Ireland that are situated on either end of Kilternan Village.
The Church is set higher than the road on a grassy area now overgrown but quite accessible. The road below is but a narrow lane and difficult to park in. We parked in front of a locked field gate just beyond the little stone bridge about 100 yards down the lane way to the left of the Church.
To find the ruin take the R117 towards Enniskerry from Kilternan. When you reach the blue wooden Church on your right take the immediate right hand turn. This road is called Ballybetagh Rd. Follow on up this road and shortly you will come to a sharp left turn. The Ballybetagh Rd continues to the left towards Glencullen but the lane way directly ahead is Bishops Lane. Drive down carefully as its quite narrow and you will find the Old Church ruins on your left.
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