Killursa Explained
| Killursa |
| Native Name: | Cill Fhursa |
| Native Name Lang: | ga |
| Pushpin Map: | Ireland |
| Relief: | yes |
| Coordinates: | 53.4678°N -9.1449°W |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Denomination: | Catholic (pre-Reformation) |
| Former Name: | Kildaree Church[1] [2] [3] |
| Dedication: | Saint Fursey |
| Functional Status: | ruined |
| Style: | Anglo-Norman |
| Years Built: | 12th century AD |
| Length: | 22.5m (73.8feet) |
| Width: | 7m (23feet) |
| Floor Count: | 1 |
| Floor Area: | 160m2 |
| Materials: | stone |
| Diocese: | Tuam |
| Embedded: | | Embed: | yes | | Designation2: | National monument of Ireland | | Designation2 Offname: | Killursa | | Designation2 Number: | 231[4] |
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Killursa is a medieval church and national monument in County Galway, Ireland.[5] [6] The church is located on the outskirts of Westport, about east-northeast of the town of Galway. It has a rectangular mass in the Early Christian or Romanesque style, with an octagonal tower at its northeast corner. The tower was apparently added in the 15th century. The church is datable from the 12th century, and may have been founded by St. Columba. The current structure is from the 16th century.
The church is notable for the pre-Reformation frescoes, which are some of the best in Ireland. These include a depiction of the Crucifixion, and other scenes from the Life of Christ. The paintings are attributed to the Master of Ballina, who is traditionally thought to have been active in the mid-14th century. The frescoes were damaged by dampness in the 18th century, and were restored in the 1990s.
Location
Killursa is located 2.6km (01.6miles) west of Headford.[7]
History
A monastery was established here in the 7th century by Saint Fursey (Fursa).[8]
The church on the current site dates from the 12th or 13th century, although the southwestern part is thought to be even older.[9] [10] It fell out of use around the 15th century.[11] [12]
Description
The church is rectangular with mullioned Late Gothic window and trabeate doorway.[13]
Notes and References
- Web site: KillursaChurch. irishantiquities.bravehost.com.
- Web site: National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship: Galway . 4 March 2009 . . 14 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171114053649/https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-galway.pdf . live . 9 June 2020 .
- Book: de Valera . Ruaidhri . O Nuallain . Sean . Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland: Vol III . 1972 . Stationery Office . Dublin . xv . 31 May 2021.
- Web site: National Monuments of County Galway in State Care . 7 . heritageireland.ie . National Monument Service . 27 July 2020.
- Web site: Killursa Church, Headford - TripAdvisor. www.tripadvisor.ie.
- Book: Carroll, Michael Henry. Valley of the Milk: A History of the Carroll Family of Luggawannia, Headford, Co. Galway. 30 November 2017. M.H. Carroll. 9780953650002. Google Books.
- Web site: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland: Exhibiting the Names of the Several Cities, Towns, Parishes, and Villages ... Collected from the Most Authentic Documents, and Arranged in Alphabetical Order. Being a Continuation of the Topography of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Nicholas. Carlisle. 30 November 2017. W. Miller. Google Books.
- Web site: St. Fursa - Patron Saint of Killursa. www.lalley.com.
- Book: Spellissy, Sean. The history of Galway. 1 January 1999. Celtic Bookshop. 9780953468331. Google Books.
- Web site: A Chorographical Description of West Or H-Iar Connaught: Written A.D. 1684. Roderic. O'Flaherty. 30 November 2017. For the Irish Archaeological Society. Google Books.
- Web site: Killursa Church, Galway, Ireland. 19 August 2015.
- Book: Byrne, Dick. Galway on the Bay. 30 November 2017. Dundurn. 9781900935258. Google Books.
- Web site: Killursa Church / Cill Fhursa . Megalithic Ireland . 31 May 2021.
