Dromin Church and Motte, Louth.html

Dromin

Medieval Church and Norman Motte

The 15th/16th century parish church at Dromin is built on the site of a 6th century monastery founded by St Finian. It was a nave and chancel church with a typical late medieval, now blocked, chancel arch. Access to the chancel is through a breach in the north wall. The original pointed two-centered arched doorway, pictured below left, is still present in the north wall to the west of the breach. There were two windows in the south wall of the chancel, the ogee-headed window at the west end was constructed with two dressed limestone blocks, see image below right. There are the scant remains of another window in the east wall. The north and west walls of the nave are missing. The south wall had two windows, both of which are now blocked. A plain octagonal-shaped sandstone font is present in the chancel.

Dromin Medieval Church and Norman Motte The 15th/16th century parish church at Dromin is built on the site of a 6th century monastery founded by St Finian. It was a nave and chancel church with a typical late medieval, now blocked, chancel arch. Access to the chancel is through a breach in the north wall. The original pointed two-centered arched doorway, pictured below left, is still present in the north wall to the west of the breach. There were two windows in the south wall of the chancel, the ogee-headed window at the west end was constructed with two dressed limestone blocks, see image below right. There are the scant remains of another window in the east wall. The north and west walls of the nave are missing. The south wall had two windows, both of which are now blocked. A plain octagonal-shaped sandstone font is present in the chancel.

Norman Motte Situated on a ridge to the north-west of the relatively modern Roman Catholic church, is a 5.5 metre high, flat-topped norman motte. The motte is approx 26 metres in diameter at the base, the west side has been damaged by a cattle track. There is little evidence of a fosse. Just 150 metres ESE of the steep-sided motte is the 12th/13th century church.
Situated: Heading north on the M1 take exit 13 onto the R170. After about 1.5k turn right in the village. Head for the new church tower. Discovery Map 36: O 0300 8943. Last visit. Longitude: 6° 26' 08.0" W Latitude: 53° 50' 39.8" N Google Map Photos: José Gutiérrez.