St. Molua's Church, Killaloe

St. Molua's Church, Killaloe
St. Lua's Oratory
Teampall Lua
St. Molua's Church, Killaloe is located in Ireland
St. Molua's Church, Killaloe
St. Molua's Church, Killaloe
52°48′25″N 8°26′40″W / 52.807063°N 8.444365°W / 52.807063; -8.444365
LocationThe Green, Killaloe, County Clare (formerly Friar's Island)
CountryIreland
DenominationPre-Reformation Catholic
History
Founded10th/11th century AD
DedicationMo Lua of Killaloe
Architecture
Functional statusinactive
StyleCeltic Christian
Specifications
Number of floors1
Administration
DioceseKillaloe
Designations
Official nameSt. Molua's Church
Reference no.279

St. Molua's Church, Killaloe is a medieval church and National Monument in Killaloe, Ireland.[1]

Location

St. Molua's Church was constructed on Friar's Island in the River Shannon, to the south of Killaloe town. In 1929–30 the Shannon hydroelectric scheme raised the water level and submerged Friar's Island, and the church was dismantled and brought north to be constructed on its present site in the grounds of Killaloe Cathedral.[2][3]

History

A monastery was founded on Friar's Island by Mo Lua in the 6th century. The stone church was built c. 1000, in the era of Brian Boru. The stone roof is one of the first in Ireland; most contemporary stone buildings had wooden roofs.[4][5]

Church

Side view
Narrow doorway

The church consists of nave and narrow chancel, built of limestone and mortar. The roof was built without a barrel vault and so collapsed in a storm.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Barbara Crocker Whelpton (1 January 1964). "Unknown Ireland: a motoring itinerary of lesser-known general and archaeological features". Johnson – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Demolition of St. Lua's Church, Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland · Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland".
  3. ^ "Transportation of St. Lua's Church, Killaloe, Co. Clare, Ireland · Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland".
  4. ^ Laing, Lloyd Robert (29 June 2006). The Archaeology of Celtic Britain and Ireland: C.AD 400 - 1200. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521838627 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Killaloe".
  6. ^ WAKEMAN, William Frederick (1 January 1852). "Three days on the Shannon: from Limerick to Lough Key" – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". The Society. 1 January 1994 – via Google Books.