Ruined Churches and Churchyards

transcribed at

Ruined Churches and Churchyards  [duchas:4860948]

Ruined Churches and Churchyards
The ruins of the old parish Church of Moycarkey, where the people went to mass to before the present one was built is not the one as many people think, which stands in the present Graveyard, but was situated at the back in Mr McGrath's field. It was a long building with a thatched roof. The entrance to it was across the old graveyard at the end of Mr McGrath's house. Mass was celebrated prior to the year 1800. It is not known how many doors or windows were on it as the back wall only remains there now. It was thought that there were no statues in the churches at that time, but paintings on the walls some of which remained there up to a few years ago. 
       The old building in the Graveyard was an abbey of the 11th century which was dedicated to St. Andrew. It was divided into two parts -  the east end smaller than the other. In this portion it is presumed that the monks

Ruined Churches and Churchyards  [duchas:4860949]

had their sleeping quarters. Inside this portion on the south side is the tomb of Father Cashin who was Parish Priest of Moycarkey and died about the year 1780. On the north side of the building is the tomb of Fr. Ed. Ryan who built the present parish Church in 1800. There is also a Polish Priest buried between the entrance gate to the churchyard and the ruins of the old abbey.
          On the south side of the castle of Moycarkey in the district of Mylenoe and near Horse & Jockey on Mr Michael Duryer's land there was a church and graveyard long ago. It was probably this church that gave the name to the townland "Cill Nua" or "New Church" or as it is now known "Kylenoe" (Joe Collonan, Parkstown)
             In this parish there is a very old churchyard named Galloola. Gall Bhuaile- the foreign dairy place, near the sources of the rivers Cloughawn and Breegagle. The graveyard was once in Thurles parish; and in 1302 paid £2 tax. The graveyard was much larger, about 4 acres,

Ruined Churches and Churchyards  [duchas:4860950]

but up to 40 years ago it had no boundary wall. Then a very clever though rakish man names Jack Butler of Ballyhuddy, Moycarkey, wrote a letter to the then District Council complaining of the desecration of the dead by farm animals. The letter was a master-piece, and was preserved in the local Government Records in Dublin. 
           The old church in the graveyard is divided into nave and chancel. The nave was 23 feet wide. The chancel measures 23 ft. X 16 ft. but its east end is completely gone. The church had a window that widened inside. There is another window closed up and a pointed window and an arched door way.
       The church is now in ruins and is partly covered with ivy. The graveyard is still used as a burial ground. 
       Less than half a mile from the Cross of Turtulla in Doctor Barry's field quite close to the road leading to Cloughmartin is situated the old