Part 3: Pre-reformation
church and monastic sites
Chapter 27: Kilmaleery Parish
Kilmaleery Church; Kilmaleery Holy Well
KILMALEERY CHURCH
Nat. Grid. Ref: R373655; ½” Sheet 17
Photo 1: Shot through Kilmaleery Church,
from the south-east
| R.C. Parish : | Newmarket-on-Fergus |
| Townland : | Kilmaleery |
| 6” O.S. Sheet number : | 51 (Co. Clare) |
| Reference : | 25.5 cm North; 19.9 cm West |
| Height (G.L.) : | c. 80’ O.D. |
| 1” O.S. Sheet number : | 133 (Sixmilebridge) |
For information relating to this site refer to: (a) site plan (b) site description (c) series of photographs on the site.
Plan of Kilmaleery Church:
Kilmaleery Church:
As the site plan shows only parts of the northern and southern walls
survive at this site. In fact this plan does the Church ruins justice
as from it one gets the impression that part of Kilmaleery Church,
at least, is quite traceable on the ground. Unfortunately this is not
the case (photo 1).
The northern wall, along its 11.50 metre length, averages 1.50 metres in height. However due to a very heavy covering of ivy and bushes it was impossible to note any features along this wall (photo 1).
Likewise for the southern wall. Admittedly the lower traces of this are visible in parts but generally speaking the wall is heavily covered by ivy (photo 1). A doorway along this wall leads into what was a smaller room. This entrance area, which contains red brick in its composition, is 2.0 metres high by 1.15 metres wide (photo 2). A small 2.0 metre stretch of wall occurs inside the entrance, the only surviving trace of the room (site plan). This contains a now partly ivy covered square window, .90 metre wide and high by .60 metre deep.
Graves and a few tombs occur both within and around this site. Some of these burials date to the past decade, showing the site is still used as a graveyard.
Date of Church:
The red brick occurring in the doorway and over parts of the wall suggests
a late date for this church site. Westropp says “…It was
evidently rebuilt late in the eighteenth century…” (1900,
page 149). O’Donovan also agrees with the idea of a late date
for the site: “…This Church is certainly not many centuries
old.” (O.S. Letters, 1839, pages 142/143).
REFERENCES TO KILMALEERY CHURCH:
| Frost, | 1893, page 190 (very general). |
| Westropp, | 1900, page 149 (general). |
| O.S. Letters, 1839 pages 142/143 (general). | |
Other Site of Religious Interest:
Kilmaleery Holy Well.
Clenagh Townland; 6” O.S. Sheet 51 (Co. Clare); Reference – 19.4
cm West; 25.9 cm South; at 32’ O.D.
Concerning this site O’Donovan wrote in 1839: “…now much frequented on Saturdays…”
(O.S. Letters, 1839, page 142).
Photo 2: Ivy covered door on south wall
of Kilmaleery Church
Photo 3: Shot from Kilmaleery Church towards
the Fergus Estuary, to the west
