Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeChurch
- Recorded sizeint. 7.9m E-W; 4.3m N-S
- Condition (as surveyed)Ruined
- StatusNational Monument
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
Situated on a low natural rise in undulating limestone outcrop c. 0.5km W of Kilfenora. A small rectangular building (int. dims. 7.9m E-W; 4.3m N-S) largely collapsed.
Full archaeological record 160 words
Situated on a low natural rise in undulating limestone outcrop c. 0.5km W of Kilfenora. A small rectangular building (int. dims. 7.9m E-W; 4.3m N-S) largely collapsed. Intermittent remains of the N wall foundations are surmounted by a modern wall. A mound (H 0.25m; Wth 1.1m) of grassed-over rubble is all that remains of the E gable. The S wall (L 5.6m; H 2.25m; T 0.73m) is constructed of roughly coursed, mortared limestone with no remaining features. A mound with possible internal stone facing marks the W gable and it is also surmounted by a modern wall. A plain recumbent graveslab lies in the interior. Stone foundations outside the SW corner (L 2.25m) suggest that the building may originally have been larger. Undulations in the field immediately to the W suggest further building activity. The church may have been part of a leper hospital (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 352). Kilcarragh church is a national monument in State care, no. 7.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Mary Tunney · Updated 20 May 2015. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
More ancient churches nearby

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Church · Noughaval (Burren By.) · Clare · 4.1 km away

Killinaboy Church
Church · Killinaboy · Clare · 9.5 km away
Rathborney Church
Church · Croagh North · Clare · 11 km away
Temple Cronan
Church · Termon · Clare · 13 km away
National MonumentDysert O'Dea monastic site
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National MonumentRuan Church
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Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Noughaval Round TowerRound tower · Noughaval (Burren By.) · 4.1 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Kilcarragh Church
Other heritage nearby
- Kilfenora monastic siteMonastic site · 0.4 km
- South Cross, KilfenoraHigh cross · 0.5 km
- Doorty's Cross, KilfenoraHigh cross · 0.5 km
- North Cross, KilfenoraHigh cross · 0.5 km
- Kilfenora Cathedral and CrossesHigh cross · 0.5 km
- Ballyganner TombMegalithic tomb · 4.2 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 107 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 10 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 megalithic tombsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 6 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 3Road Cycling Trail · 42.7 km · nearest point 0.3 km
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 4Road Cycling Trail · 46.4 km · nearest point 5.2 km
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 2Road Cycling Trail · 37.5 km · nearest point 6.8 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Gragan's WoodForests · 7.9 km
- LahinchBeaches · 10 km · Good Quality (2025)
- FanoreBeaches · 15 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
- Ballyteigue Nature ReserveNature reserves · 4.9 km
- Keelhilla, Slieve Carron Nature ReserveNature reserves · 19 km
- Inchiquin HouseHistoric stays · 11 km
- Newpark HouseHistoric stays · 23 km
Other attractions nearby
- Fiadh Irish WolfhoundsWalking · 6.3 km
- Burren Hill WalksWalking · 9.5 km
- Gleninsheen Wedge TombHistoric Houses and Castle · 9.7 km
- Kilnaboy Medieval Church and Round TowerHistoric Houses and Castle · 9.9 km

