Dulane, St Cairnech, Meath

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Location
(53°44′48″N, 6°53′39″W)
Site Location
Dulane
National Grid Reference
N 73 78
Boundaries
pre-1974 traditional (Republic of Ireland) Meath now Meath
Diocese
medieval Meath now Meath
Dedication
Type of building/monument
Report authors
  • Rachel Moss
Visit Date
26 May 1997

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Feature Sets
Description

A small rectangular church with antae at the W end. The W wall survives to a height of 2.15 m above current ground level, the S wall remains at close to its original height. All other walls are destroyed to foundation level. The church is situated within surrounding earthworks, the ground level has risen greatly around it due to modern burials.

History

The early monastic foundation is attributed to St. Cairneach of Cornwall. A stone church was burnt during Viking raids at the site in 920. The site was plundered by Dermot Mac Murrough in 1170. The church at Dulane became a parish church shortly after the Anglo-Norman invasion.

Features

Exterior Features

Doorways

Comments/Opinions

Trabeated doorways with carved architraves are also found at Glendalough (St. Mary's and Reefert) and at Fore. The form of the doorway combined with the moulding profile is suggestive of an early 12thc. date.

Bibliography

Anon, Riocht na Midhe, 1, no.4 (1958) 14

E. Dunraven, Notes on Irish Architecture Vol 1(Dublin, 1891), 94.

A. Gwynn and R. N. Hadcock, Early Medieval Houses Ireland (London, 1970), 35.

Lantis, D. G., Romanesque in Leinster (Unpublished M.Litt. Thesis, Trinity College Dublin, 1980), 179-80.

H. G. Leask, Irish Churches and Monastic Buildings Vol 1 (Dundalk, 1955), 67.