Derrynaflan Church

On an island of dry land surrounded by bog with good views in all directions. The church is within an ecclesiastical enclosure (TS054-002002-) with medieval graveslabs (TS054-002004-) and a mound (TS054-002003-) c. 80m to the NNE, a burial ground (TS054-0002005-) c. 160m to the NE and a ring-barrow (TS054-0002006-) c. 170m to the NE. There is an enclosure (TS054-001----) 290m to the W. The church is mentioned in the 15th-century Papal taxations of the Diocese of Cashel and in the 17th century is described as ruinous and the absence of srvices is noted (Ryan 1980, 10). Between 1676 and 1724 Derrynaflan is mentioned as being occupied by the Franciscans, though their records do not suggest that there was a resident community (Ryan 1980, 10). A multiperiod nave (int. dims. 7.15m N-S; 10.85m E-W; wall T 0.82m) and chancel (int. dims. 4.8m N-S; 8.45m E-W; wall T 0.87m) church of roughly coursed limestone rubble construction, with a single-storey wing running N-S from the W end of the church. The chancel appears to have been built in the 13th century when it was added to the E end of an early medieval church (approx. int. dims. 7.15m N-S; 10.85m E-W) built of coursed cyclopean limestone masonry, of which only the lower courses of the S wall survive (Ryan 1980, 11). Only the N, S and E walls of the chancel survive to full height. The E gable contains two single-light trefoil-headed windows, while there are three single-light trefoil-headed windows in the S wall. The trefoil windows have sandstone jambs with glazing-bar holes and are set internally into segmental-arched embrasures faced with sandstone jambs and sloping sillstones. There is a round-headed Romanesque decorated sandstone piscina or niche located at the E end of the S wall. In the centre of the chancel there is a triangular-shaped gable finial with socket for a cross belonging to the original roof of the 13th-century church. Also in the interior of the church is a small bullaun stone (TS054-002008-). Only the lower courses of the S wall of the nave and a small portion of the W gable survives, with possible evidence for shallow antae (D 0.05m). At the NW angle of the nave a length of wall (L 13.1m; wall T 0.80m), running northward, survives. This is possibly the remains of the W wall of a conventual building (int. dim. 12.5m E-W; wall T 0.8m) which may have enclosed the W side of a cloister to the N of the church. On this wall three rectangular external buttresses (avg. Wth 1.1m; 0.80-1m D) survive. Between each buttress are the remains of a broken-out single-light window. A short length of the E wall of this range is also visible.