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I Location

II General Description

A 15thc. building incorporating a late Romanesque E window and early Gothic N doorway. Loose fragments of early 13thc. date are found in the church, which is disused and roofless.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) N doorway, nave

Pointed, of one order. (reset)

First order

Plain, chamfered arch and jambs. The imposts have a hollow between large upper and smaller lower keel mouldings. The label is composed of a bowtell outer moulding separated by a hollow from a smaller inner roll. The outer moulding forms the body of a beast and ends at the W in hindquarters (with double outline, similar to those on E window), with a small capital with stiff-leaf foliage on label stop below. E end of label and E label stop missing. The label probably terminated in the head of the animal.

2. Windows

(i) E gable

Round-headed, of two orders inside and out, with wide interior splay. The window is reset in a thickened section of wall, which projects on the interior of the church.

First order

Chamfered.

Second order

Continuous roll moulding on jambs and sill. The label bears a bowtell moulding similar to the N doorway. It does not fit with the moulding of jambs and sill, showing that the window has been inaccurately reconstructed.

First order, interior

Continuous, splayed, with lateral centripetal chevron on face and soffit, arranged point-to-point on a keeled angle roll. The chevron mouldings are flanked by beading and terminate at the bottom of the jambs in foliage sprays and snakes. The keeled angle roll forms the body of a beast and terminates in head and forelegs on N (with neck twisted to bite at snakes and foliate terminals of chevron mouldings) and in hindquarters on S (bitten by snakes). The triangular fields within the chevron points bear varied foliage and occasional animal decoration in low relief.

On the splay, N jamb, bottom to top, as follows: snakes; two stones with trefoil foliage; rosette with spirals and palmettes in corners; a central triquetra(?) and three trefoil leaves; half-rosette; spiralling foliage; three stones with varied symmetrical foliage sprays.

On splay of arch, N to S as follows: two voussoirs bearing varied symmetrical foliage sprays; quadruped, perhaps a bull, in profile, head facing down; three voussoirs with symmetrical foliage designs with trefoil leaves; symmetrical foliage with four-petalled flowers; palmette; four voussoirs with symmetrical foliage; three rosettes on cruciform stem; fan-shaped leaf.

On splay of S jamb, top to bottom, as follows: small leaves and flowers; spiral leaves; rosette; six stones bearing varied symmetrical foliage designs; snakes biting hind leg of beast.

On face of N jamb, bottom to top, as follows: snakes and foliage; five stones bearing varied symmetrical foliage designs; two stones with rosettes; two stones with varied symmetrical sprays of foliage.

On face of arch, N to S as follows: curled up animal; four voussoirs with varied foliage designs; design unclear; animal in profile, upside down; foliage; concentric circles; four voussoirs with varied symmetrical foliage; design unclear.

Face of S jamb, top to bottom: nine stones bearing varied symmetrical foliage designs; snakes biting hind leg of beast.

Second order, interior

A continuous moulding composed of a hollow between angle rolls frames the jambs and sill (central part of sill missing). Square carved capitals with chamfered imposts.

N capital: low relief foliage with scalloped leaves.

S capital: low relief foliage with looped stems encircling daisy-like flowers.

The arch has lateral chevron arranged point-to-point, with the arris cut away between the points to form a serrated edge. The chevrons are flanked by beading and have low-relief decoration in the triangular fields within the points, mostly varied foliate motifs with occasional geometric motifs or animals, and some triangles left uncarved. Mouldings terminate at N and S in snakes and foliage.

(ii) N chancel wall

Round-headed, with plain interior splay.

VI Loose Sculpture

(i) Double springer

Double springer bearing point-to-point chevron forming two lozenges with raised mouldings.

Dimensions

(ii) Stiff leaf capital

Stiff leaf capital with depression in base for attached shaft. Damaged foliage.

Dimensions

VII History

Traditionally granted to St Brendan of Clonfert by the king of Connacht who died in 578. Monastery burnt in 1142. First known bishop mentioned in 1189. Between 1252 and 1302 Annaghdown became an archdeaconry in the diocese of Tuam. In 1327 the diocese was united with Tuam.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The N door and E window were probably built for the first cathedral in the late 12thc. when Annaghdown became an Episcopal see. The keel moulding of the E window suggests a date of c.1200 or slightly later (Garton, 1981, 53-4). The rich decoration of the triangular panels and the inclusion of snakes and beasts in the chevron are similar to the S doorway at Killaloe Cathedral and to sculpture at Tuamgraney. The low relief foliage carving and the use of framed and continuous window mouldings relates to the 'School of the West'. The mouldings of the N doorway appear to be more advanced in date, perhaps contemporary with the loose stones (1220s?). The use of beasts as mouldings is similar to and possibly inspired by the E window. The decoration of the loose fragment (i) is similar to chevron on the E windows at Killone, Co. Clare.

IX Bibliography