Killaliathan Church

National monument No. 86. In centre of graveyard (LI054-03302-). Roofless ruin of Killagholehane parish church (Westropp 1904-05, 405-6) consisting of gabled rectangular (int.: 14.15m E-W; 7.6m N-S) church with transept-like projections to N (int.: 4.55m E-W; 4.35m N-S) and S (int.: 3.85m E-W); latter almost completely ruined. Built of uncoursed sandstone rubble. Structure has recently been repaired in places by OPW.

Church entered through doorway in centre of W wall. Present doorway is an insertion into an earlier ope; round-arched limestone door surround, set slightly back from outer wall face. Inserted into outer wall face, just S of door, is limestone stoup with circular bowl (diam. 0.32m; D 0.14m). Directly above doorway is window with single ogee-headed light. On inside wall face, flanking doorway, are two limestone corbels which supported loft at W end of church. Most of E wall occupied by three tall windows; embrasure of same size except central one has slightly higher pointed arch, whereas sides have more rounded arches (see photo Spellissy 1989, 161). No dressed stone on lights which are simple slit openings. Inserted into the central embrasure is a double ogee-headed light of limestone.

In centre of N wall is simple slit window, and there is a pair of similar windows E-of-centre in S wall. Slightly W-of-centre in S wall is doorway into projection; only base of doorway survives, which has chamfered limestone jambs. Transept lit by single slit window in S wall; much-ruined ope in E wall may have been door. Projection on N wall set further to W and now almost completely ruined; only lower half of doorway survives with chamfered limestone jambs on door surround; both doors into projections were closed from inside church. Interior of church contains a number of recent burial plots, otherwise covered in low grass.

Immediately below E windows is altar (2.4m E-W; 0.8m N-S; H 0.66m) built of plain sandstone masonry except top inner edge which plain dressed limestone. Set into base of central E window is part of broken limestone font (0.4m x 0.4m x 0.3m), with plain rounded band just below rim. Built into E end of S wall is tomb niche with limestone surround rising full height of side wall; opening (Wth 2.2m; D 0.3m) covered by moulded round arch, above which is ogee-arch, with similar moulding, topped by finial; this is framed by two pilasters topped with pinnacles (that to W missing); this is probably 15th century in date (see Leask 1960, vol. 3, 167-74).

Core of church and projections are of one build; church was burnt in 1302 (Westropp ibid.) but form of windows in E gable is early 13th century. Refitted in 15th century with insertion of tomb niche, W doorway and ogee-headed windows, and all other limestone details.