Raheen-a-Cluig explained

Raheen-a-Cluig
Other Name:Raheenac[h]luig Church, Raheen na gClig, Raheen na Clig
Native Name:Ráithín an Chloig
Native Name Lang:ga
Pushpin Map:Ireland
Relief:yes
Coordinates:53.1938°N -6.0905°W
Country:Ireland
Denomination:Pre-Reformation Catholic
Founded Date:c. 1200
Dedication:St Michael or St Brendan
Functional Status:ruined
Style:Norman
Years Built:13th century
Length:12.5m (41feet)
Width:5.3m (17.4feet)
Height:2m (07feet)
Floor Count:1
Floor Area:66m2
Materials:stone
Diocese:Dublin
Embedded:
Embed:yes
Designation2:National Monument of Ireland
Designation2 Offname:Raheenachluig (Bray)
Designation2 Number:262[1]

Raheen-a-Cluig is a medieval church and National Monument in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.[2]

Location

Raheen-a-Cluig lies on the north face of Bray Head in Raheen Park, about 300m (1,000feet) south of the beach, with a commanding view over the coastline.

History

Raheen-a-Cluig is believed to have been built in the 12th–13th century AD.[3] The name derives from the Irish Ráithín an Chloig. This would mean "little fort of the bell", but there is no sign of a fort. Ráithín can also refer to a wall of built-up sods of turf, or it could be a version of raithean, "ferny area". It was given to the Augustines by the then prominent Archbold family. It may have been dedicated to St Michael or St Brendan.[4] [5]

It was partially restored in the 18th century. Over the years it has also been used as a hideout by smugglers, and it associated with various ghost stories.

Church

The ruins have a doorway in the northeast wall which would have originally held a strong timber door, and round-headed windows in the east and west gables.

There were two smaller buildings close by and so is an enclosure: probably a cillín: a burial ground for suicides, shipwrecked sailors, strangers, unrepentant murderers and unbaptised babies.

About a 400 m (¼ mile) southeast of the church there was a holy well, known as Patrick’s Well. This was still used in the 1830s, mostly by invalids.[6]

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: Raheen a Cluig church Bray head c1875. www.flickr.com.
  3. Web site: Raheen na Clig . Irish Stones . 22 November 2020 .
  4. Web site: Ireland In Ruins: Raheen-A-Cluig Church Co Wicklow. irelandinruins.blogspot.ie.
  5. Web site: Raheen-a-Cluig Card Print. www.etsy.com.
  6. Web site: Bygone Tour of Bray - Bray at the heart of it. www.bray.ie.