Rathreagh Church

In pasture on demesne land, in the S half of a graveyard (LF024-003003-). In 1397 Donatus Ofrarguil was appointed to the vicarage of ‘Rathriebach’ (Cal. papal letters 1904, vol. 5, 105). In 1594 it was granted to John Lye of Rathbride, county Kildare (Nicholls 1994, vol. 3, 240) and in 1607 it was granted to Patrick Fox of Dublin (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., Jas I, 115). The church is depicted on an early 17th-century map of Ardagh barony (BL, Cotton MS Augustus I.ii.25) and on the Down Survey map (1655-6) of Reathreagh parish (NLI, MS 713). This late-medieval church (ext. dims. 14.9m E-W; 7.4m N-S; wall T 0.9m) is constructed of roughly coursed limestone. It was extended to the W and extensively refurbished in the late 18th century. A plaque, dated 1772, over the elaborate Classical doorway and surround in the W gable commemorates this work. The outline of the original W gable is still identifiable. There is a three-light window in the E gable; its internal stonework possibly dates to the 17th century but the external stonework is of 18th-century date. There are two narrower twin-light windows in the S wall. The effigial tomb (LF024-003002-) of Nathaniel Fox, dated 1634, lies within the interior, against the N wall. (ITA Survey 1944; (Craig and O'Connell 1980, 136-41; Casey and Rowan 1993, 352-3, Pl. 58)