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St Mogua, Noughaval, Clare

Location
(53°1′5″N, 9°10′40″W)
Noughaval
R 21 97
pre-1974 traditional (Republic of Ireland) Clare
now Clare
  • Tessa Garton

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Description

The church consists of nave and chancel, 16.15 m x 6.55 m and 8.53 m x 6.4 m respectively (Westropp). The W wall and W end of the nave are in ruins with only the lower walls remaining. The E end is standing but is heavily overgrown with ivy. There are 12thc. windows in the E and S walls of the chancel, these are tall and narrow with a wide splay on the interior. The S window of the chancel is round-headed with a broad hollow chamfer on the exterior. The E window has a simple chamfer on the exterior. There are two later medieval windows in the S wall of the nave. The chancel arch has a plain square arch of one order, with a slight arris roll on the jambs. There is a late Romanesque S doorway at the W end of the nave.

History

Early monastic site. Founded by St Mogua, date and identity uncertain (Westropp, 1900b,133).

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Interior Features

Arches

Chancel arch/Apse arches

Loose Sculpture

Comments/Opinions

The chancel arch is 12thc., and earlier than the S doorway, which has decoration similar to Corcomroe Abbey, and is probably early 13thc. Westropp dates the early church to the 10th or 11thc. (much repaired), and mentions ancient heads of E and S windows.

Bibliography
M.M. Killanin and M. V. Duignan, Shell Guide to Ireland, 1962, 2nd ed. 1967, 319.
A. Gwynn and R.N. Hadcock, Medieval Religious Houses: Ireland. London 1970,399.
T.N. Westropp, 'The Antiquities of the Northern Portion of the County of Clare' JRSAI, 30 (1900a), Proceedings, 399-400.
T.N. Westropp, 'The Churches of County Clare, and the origin of the ecclesiastical divisions in that county,' PRIA, 22 (1900b), 133.