Temple Cronan

Situated c. 1.3km NE of Carran village within a possible ecclesiastical enclosure (CL010-021001-) and graveyard (CL010-021003-) at the edge of a lowlyling marshy area. A small oratory (ext. dims. 6.6m E-W x 3.9m N-S), dedicated to St Cronan of Roscrea. It was built in the 12th century and renovated in the late medieval period. The cyclopean masonry used in the building, although generally indicative of an earlier date, may represent a later introduction of that type of masonry in the Burren (Harbison 1972, 5). A trabeate doorway (Wth at base 0.72m; Wth at top 0.59m; H 1.78m) in the W wall is blocked up to within 0.1m from the top. It has a large lintel and inclined jambs. One of the jambstones has a Romanesque carved animal head which convincingly dates the construction of the church to the 12th century (Sheehan 1982, 39). There are three other carved heads on this wall and another on one of two protruding corbels.

A pointed doorway (Wth 1.02m; H 1.64m) at the W end of the N wall has a flat-arched stepped embrasure and dressed jambs with a carved head above. A plain head is set upside-down on a slightly protruding stone at the E end of this wall. The E wall has a small round-headed window set in a splayed flat embrasure (embrasure H 1.39m; Wth 0.74m at base; c. 0.58m at top). The lower stones of the embrasure bear bead motifs but those on the N are badly damaged. A projecting corbel on the external E wall displays an upside-down head with flared nostrils. The S wall has a central carved animal head high on the exterior. There are two slab shrines (CL010-021010- and CL010-021011-) one in the graveyard and one just outside and a termon cross (CL010-021004-) is c. 120m to the W. There is a penitential station (CL010-021013-) and a holy well (CL010-021005-) to the S. Templecronan is a National Monument in State care, no. 13. (Westropp 1900-02, 134; Harbison 1972, 3-7; Sheehan 1982, 36)