Medieval Parish Churches of North Clare

Parish churches vary considerably in style, period and size. Some display features of a single era while others have been added to and remodelled reflecting the various changes in fashion in the past. The variety of these structures can be seen in examples taken from an area which encompasses the baronies of Tulla Upper and Bunratty Upper. This article concentrates on the existing physical remains in the aforementioned area. In this area there are the remains of ten parish churches and the sites of two, as listed by Westropp in 1900-02 and the fourteenth century taxation lists. Clonrush, Clooney, Doora, Inchicronan, Iniscealtra (not dealt with in this paper), Kilraghtis, Moynoe, Templemaley, Tuamgraney and Tulla. Sites of churches with no physical remains are at Feakle and Kilnoe. The churches vary in both their geographical locations and physical manifestations. Since the foundation of the parishes (probably in the twelfth century), their boundaries have experienced fluctuations. These changes were often a reflection of the political, social, economic and religious climate at the time. Due to these changes in the parochial divisions, some parishes disappeared when they were amalgamated with others, while more were sub-divided. The parish name of Kilnoe does not appear in the 1305 taxation lists, but does appear in Bishop Ryder’s Royal Visitation records of 1615. This suggests that it was formed between 1305 and 1615. Its very name meaning new church also suggests this.

Like their parish boundaries the churches have also changed. Many have not survived the ravages of time while one at least continues in use, this is St. Cronan’s at Tuamgraney (shown above). It also serves as the heaquarters of East Clare Heritage. Some churches are of a single style while most display the fashions of many generations. Many elements dictated the style of a church. These included the fashion of the time, finance, ability of the craftsmen, technology, availability of resources, population size and the personal taste of the masons and patron. Fashion, the ability of the craftsmen, availability of resources and the technology of the day affected the overall style of the building but especially the doors and windows. It is in these areas that the changes in fashion are most obvious as new windows and doors were often inserted into older ones. The east window at Clonrush is an inserted Late Medieval window. The size of the church may reflect not only the size of the population but also the wealth of the parish or an individual land owner. As population fluctuated so did the size and numbers of the churches. The addition of the twelfth century chancel (the eastern part of the church), to the tenth century nave (the western end), at Tuamgraney may have facilitated an increase in the population as well as reflecting a new fashion, technology and the wealth of the parish. As can be seen many factors influenced the physical appearance of these buildings. Each church is unique and has its own story hidden within its walls.

The earliest surviving churches in the area probably date from the tenth century. Some of these are located on the sites of earlier churches, for example Tuamgraney, which according to the Annals was the location of a church in the seventh century. Churches earlier than the tenth century were most likely of wood of which no examples survive. Sometimes however the functional elements of wooden churches were used in the stone churches as decoration. These elements give clues to the appearance of the wooden churches. Another clue lies in illustrated manuscripts. It is therefore possible to imagine what earlier churches looked like. The antae at the west end of Tuamgraney church, which was built in the tenth century, are an example of this decoration. Antae are the short walls which protrude from either side of the western gable. In wooden buildings these were of wood and helped to stabilise the building. In stone churches however they have no structural function and appear as decoration.

Churches built in the tenth century were generally simple in design. They were built of large stones, had western doors and few windows. The doors generally had a lintel and were narrower on top. The doorway at Tuamgraney has a majestic appearance. It has an enormous lintel stone and is surrounded by a broad band called an architrave . The windows were also lintelled or round headed. It can be imagined when standing in the western end (nave) of Tuamgraney, that they must have been very dark buildings in the days before electricity.

The twelfth century saw the development of two styles of building in Ireland, Romanesque (from early in the century) and Gothic (from late in the century). The influence of both of these styles can be seen in this area. The best and most obvious example of the first is the east end (chancel) of Tuamgraney. The antae of the tenth century have developed into pilasters. These are the columns which are located on either side of the outside of the east gable of the church. The windows have become more elaborate with decorated surrounds. The northern window is a good example of Late Romanesque work (Garton 1981, 54), (pl. 3). It is similar to the Romanesque door in Killaloe so it might be from the same workshop (Garton 1981, 54). If this is so it is possible that the east end of Tuamgraney was commissioned by Domnall Mor O’Brien in the late twelfth century. Other churches in the area show Romanesque influence or the “Transitional style” as called by Leask. The Transitional style, mostly particular to west of the Shannon, was named by Leask as the “School of the West”. According to him it occurred from roughly AD 1200 to AD 1240 (1960). Windows in this style were often completely bordered on the exterior by a moulding. This can be seen on the exterior of the most eastern window in the southern wall at Tuamgraney. The second window from the east end, also in the southern wall of this church, has an inner embrasure arch in this style.

The church of Doora east of Ennis, Inchicronan (once a friary of the Regular Canons), north of Ennis, Templemaley and Moynoe show signs of late twelfth and early thirteenth century work. The protruding carved heads above the door and one of the southern windows of Doora church had a Romanesque influence. One is of a dog or horse, while the other is so eroded that only a guess can be made as to what it represents. It has been described by Westropp as a ‘poppy-head’ (1900b, 444), and resembles a very eroded dragon’s face. The north door, which probably entered a sacristy or other room, is simply decorated with a roll mould on its internal arris. An interesting cross slab is located about 0.2m from the north-east corner of the church. It is incised on its east face with a simple, linear cross with two cross bars, one at its base and one near the top (Reilly 1995, 66). It is too simple to date accurately. A Late Medieval limestone head has been used as a grave marker to the south of the church. It portrays a sad lined face in relief, resting on a small pillow (Reilly 1995, 66). It has been suggested to me that the lines may represent tattooing (R. Cronan, pers comm) (pl. 8).

The southern window nearest the east gable of Templemaley has a semi-circular head. If carefully examined incised knot work and linear lines are visible above the arch (Reilly 1995, 92). This decoration may have been influenced by the Romanesque style. Another interesting window can be found in the east chancel window of Inchicronan. The decoration resembles the ridge end of a thatch or wooden roof, with floral decoration. (This window has been miscorrectly illustrated in both Westropp 1900a, 135 and Keane 1867,82, fig. 14).

Influence of the Early Gothic style of building can be seen in Moynoe. As technology advanced, bigger churches with taller rooves and larger windows could be built. Buildings of this influence generally have lancet windows in their east gables. These windows are tall and narrow. The overall affect was lighter and more linear. This building was probably built in the early thirteenth century. Contrary to popular belief, the introduction of Gothic to Ireland was not the immediate result of the Norman invasion but of Anglo-Norman settlement (Stalley 1984, 68). It can therefore be suggested that this style might be found predominately in areas under Anglo-Norman control and influence. Since the Normans had most influence in south Clare around Bunratty and Quin, the occurrence of the Early Gothic style at Moynoe, in a Gaelic controlled area, shows that the Irish were aware of current fashions (Reilly 1995, 123).

It is generally considered that several factors affected the development of architecture in fourteenth century Ireland resulting in a decline of building activity.

1. The Bruce invasion, 1315-18.

2. The decline of English power and the increase of faction fighting.

3. The black death 1347-49.

War and disease caused havoc and resulted in fewer building projects being carried out.

The fifteenth century saw an apparent increase in the number of secular and ecclesiastical projects. New parish churches were built and existing ones repaired and updated. The Late Medieval style is characterised by the use of limestone (suggesting an improvement in tools as limestone is very hard), instead of sandstone which was the preferred stone in the Early Medieval period, and the use of the ogee to decorate the tops of doors and windows. The use of limestone which is more costly and timely to work than sandstone (Stalley 1984, 80), also reflects the improvement in the economic climate. Windows were often single or double lights with plain or cusped, ogee or trefoil heads. Sometimes the spandrels were decorated. The inserted window at Clonrush is a rough, plain example of a Late Medieval window. It has two lights with ogee heads. It was common for the east window in older churches to be replaced with more fashionable windows of the time.

The east window at Kilraghtis in Bunratty Upper is another example of a Late Medieval window. Parish churches of this era were generally of similar size and design- single cell, with an ogee or trefoil east window, one or more southern window and a door located in the western end of the southern wall. The door was usually pointed and made limestone. They were often decorated with a chamfer and chamfer stop on the exterior. An example of this can be seen in Inchicronan. This chamfer stop depicts an incised face .

Inchicronan is different to any of the other parish churches in the area, since it was a church of the Regular Canons of St. Augustine until dissolution about 1543. It was repaired in 1615 by Donogh, Earl of Thomond for parochial use (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 178). It may have been used as a parish church previous to this however. Since the site was given to the Regular Canons by Donald More O’Brien about 1190 it is likely that the nave of the present structure dates from this phase. This is also suggested by the east window. In c. 1421 Richard Medonis was appointed friar from Clare friary (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 178). He was perhaps the instigator for the fifteenth century additions to the structure. A sacristy was added to the north and a transept to the south in this century. The transept is entered through two pointed arches, supported by a chamfered central pier (pl. 13). The arch soffit ribs rest on moulded springing stones, which in turn rest on pointed corbels. The southern window is the only example of a tracery window in the group of churches mentioned. There is some evidence to suggest that it took the form of a three light, mullioned window .

The secular building phenomenon of this era were tower houses. These were the houses of single families. They display similar window and door designs to the churches. This indicates that fashion transcended ecclesiastical and secular divides. It is also likely that the same masons carried out work on both types of buildings.

It is not possible to suggest when most Medieval parish churches went out of use. It must be assumed that some of these buildings were used by the reformed church after the Reformation. Most of the new post-medieval churches, which Westropp has listed in 1900-02, were constructed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This implies that some were in use till then. The latest church in the study area is at Tulla. This seventeenth century neo-classical structure replaced an earlier Medieval church. It may have been used until about 1823 when a new church was built (Westropp 1900-02, 121). This Neo-classical church sees the use of brick for the first time in the primary construction, in the chancel vault. The windows are all large, alike and set neatly in the southern wall. We now see a clear contemporary, structural division between the congregational and sacred parts of the church with the construction of the nave and chancel.

There has been little archaeological study of parish churches in Ireland. Study has been hindered by a number of factors, such as their often poor condition, plainness and their continued use as graveyards. It is often difficult to date these buildings as their datable features, such as windows and doors can often be missing due to theft, reuse, or replacement by later features. Every church is different and has some small and often forgotten detail that makes every visit worth while. It is important to record and respect all phases of a church’s architectural history, as every stage in its development continues a social, economic, political, religious and stylistic story.

Bibliography:

GARTON, T. (1981), ‘A Romanesque Doorway at Killaloe’, Journal of British archaeology, (31-57).

KEANE, M. (1867), The Towers and Temples of Ancient Ireland; Their Origin and History Discussed from a New Point of View. Dublin: Hodges, Smith & Co.

LEASK, H.G. (1960), Irish Churches and Monastic Buildings. Vol. 2, Dundalk: Dundalgan Press.

REILLY, F. (1995), A Study of the Medieval parish churches of East Clare. UCC: Unpublished Masters Thesis.

STALLEY, R.A. (1984), ‘Irish Gothic and English Fashion’, in J. LYDON, (ed), The English in Medieval Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy.

WESTROPP, T.J. (1900a), ‘The Augustinian Houses of the County Clare: Clare, Killone, and Inchicronan’, JRSAI, vol.10, (118-135).

WESTROPP, T.J. (1900b), ‘Summer Excursions of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland’, JRSAI , VOL. 10, 6th series, section 4, (392-450).

WESTROPP, T.J. (1900-02), ‘The Churches of County Clare and the Origin of the Ecclesiastical Divisions in that County’, PRIA, vol. 22, (100-180).