Kilcroney Church Explained

Kilcroney Church
Native Name:Cill Chróine
Native Name Lang:ga
Pushpin Map:Ireland
Relief:yes
Coordinates:53.1861°N -6.1388°W
Country:Ireland
Denomination:Pre-Reformation Catholic
Founded Date:11th century
Dedication:Saint Cróine
Style:Celtic Christianity
Years Built:11th century
Length:12.12m (39.76feet)
Width:7.8m (25.6feet)
Height:4m (13feet)
Floor Count:1
Floor Area:95m2
Materials:sandstone, granite, shale
Diocese:Glendalough
Embedded:
Embed:yes
Designation2:National Monument of Ireland
Designation2 Offname:Kilcroney
Designation2 Number:417[1]

Kilcroney Church is a medieval church and National Monument in County Wicklow, Ireland.[2]

Location

Kilcroney Church is located in woodland on the western edge of Bray, to the south of the River Dargle.[3]

History

There may have been an earlier wooden church on the site, dedicated to Saint Cróine, an obscure female saint of the 5th century.[4] [5]

The stone church was built in the 11th century, and the pre-Norman patrons were either the Uí Briuin Cualann or the Ó Ceallaigh of Uí Teigh. In the Norman period, Kilcroney is mentioned in records of 1280, 1285 and 1305. It later returned to Gaelic Irish possession when the Ó Tuathail (O'Tooles) took over the area.

In 1533, it was mentioned that Kilcroney was a chapel of the larger local church at Stagonyll (Powerscourt). Other records claim it was a possession of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin.

The church was extended in the late medieval period, and in the modern period there has been some restoration, with the walls being propped up.[6] [7]

Church

The church is rectangular in shapewith walls of sandstone, granite and shale blocks. The southern wall holds a granite lintel and round-headed window.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Monuments of County Wicklow in State Care . 2 . heritageireland.ie . National Monument Service . 29 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Holdings: Kilcroney Church.. 1929 .
  3. Web site: Kilcroney Church. 17 November 2006 .
  4. Book: Ireland guide. Irish Tourist Board. 1953. Fógra Fáilte. 2016-08-17.
  5. Web site: Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae: Saint Croine, January 27.
  6. Web site: Church with holy woman's name - Independent.ie.
  7. Web site: Geograph:: Kilcroney Church ruins (C) Max Wellman.