Aghadoe Church

National Monument No. 53. In the N end of Aghadoe graveyard (KE066-016002-). The roofless ruin of a rectangular church (27.5m E-W; 9m N-S) divided into two compartments by a solid cross-wall (see plan in Dunraven 1877, 116). The Commissioners of Public Works on at least two occasions, the latest in the 1930s, extensively repaired the structure (SMR file); the W end-wall appears to have been almost entirely rebuilt by them. Otherwise the E gable and the N wall stand to full height but, except for a short return at either end, the S wall is largely reduced to foundation level. The interior is packed with burial-plots, as is the area immediately outside the walls.

The church shows three distinct phases of construction: the W end is mid-12th century in date and includes a Romanesque doorway; the E end dates to some time in the early 13th century; whilst the inserted cross-wall is probably late-16th century in date. A clear break in construction on the external face of the N wall (this point is concealed on the inside by the inserted cross-wall) marks the junction between the two phases of the church.

It is not clear exactly to what degree the W doorway is rebuilt but at least the present two outer orders of the arch are not original (see drawing of 1841 in OSL; Brash 1875, Pl. 38), and most of the walling surrounding the doorway is not in character with it. In its original form the door surround, which is composed of cut sandstone blocks, is round-arched and consisted of four orders with a label or fifth order on the arch. The innermost order is plain all around. The next order has a column carved with a 'double embattled' motif, a plain capital, and an arch of chevrons. The next order has a round column decorated with beading and a capital (only N survives) with an 'ovoid leaf' motif (Leask 1960, vol. 1, 93, fig. 85). The arch of this order has a band of discs and pellets. The outer order has a plain jamb and capital, with an arch of chevrons and then a label with a 'ball' motif.

Contemporary with the doorway is a pair of opposite windows just short of the inserted cross-wall; the S example is very ruined but was probably very similar to the one opposite. This is formed of cut sandstone blocks with a single round-arched light with a widely splayed embrasure inside which has been to a large extent rebuilt. A shallow incised line outlines the light on the external face.

In the centre of the E gable is a pair of identical windows, side by side- they are both covered by a single semi-elliptical relieving arch. Each has a single round-arched light of cut sandstone blocks. Both embrasures are splayed on all sides from the light with bluntly pointed rear arches. Both embrasures share the same vertical edge and near the top of this is a stone with a carving on either side; on one side a human face, on the other a geometric knot. In the S wall of the chancel, close to the cross-wall, the lower courses of a small doorway are evident.

The cross-wall is gable-shaped and has a window, with a single round-arched light looking into the E end of the church. There is a segmental-headed recess on the W face, which has been interpreted as a blocked doorway but this is not the case. The wall probably dates from a time in the late 16th century when only the E end functioned as a church and the W end was converted into a priest's residence.

In 1158 the Annals of Innishfallen record the completion of 'the great church of Aghadoe' (OSL). This date is compatible with the W end of the church (Leask).

An ivory crozier head was found in the church (Armstrong 1922-3). Immediately outside the NW corner of the church is a bullaun stone (KE066-016003-); on top of the S wall near its E end is an ogham stone (KE066-016005-); also in the same location is a stone decorated with a crucifixion scene (KE066-016007-) and another with a stylised flower (KE066-016008-); and also located within the graveyard 18.7m NW of the church is a round tower (KE066-016006-).