St Ciarán's Church / Teampall Chiaráin

Early 12th Century Church and site of a 6th century monastery

A monastery is said to be founded here by St Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, in the 6th century. Ciarán studied under St Enda who also founded a monastery on Inishmore at nearby Killeany. The monument consists of St Ciarán's early 12th century multi-period church, a cross-inscribed pillar, a sundial, the ruins of two more buildings and a holy well. In the fields to the north -east are a childrens graveyard, several more cross-inscribed pillars and a cross slab, see images below.

Early medieval sundial

The west face of the sundial bears a ringed latin cross with open terminals, the upper terminal ends in spirals. In the top part of the pillar is a double lined circle with two vertical lines dividing it into two halves. Sitting on the top of the circle a gnomon hole pierces the slab. At noon the shadow from the gnomon would run down between the two vertical lines. It has been suggested that additional lines may have been painted onto the circle. Apart from the hole, the east face of the pillar is plain.

Sundial GA111-002014 West Face

Sundial GA111-002014 East Facee

Situated:

 

Discovery Map 51: L 8728 1034. Last visit June 2023.

Longitude: 9° 41' 06.1" W

Latitude: 53° 07' 54.9 " N

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Photos: José Gutierréz.