St Munna's Church, Taghmon, Westmeath

St Munna's Church

The fortified church at Taghmon was built as a parish church around the middle of the 15th century. It is situated on the site of a late 6th century monastery founded by St Munna, aka St Fintan. The church is a single cell with a barrel vaulted roof. A delightful feature of the church is the battlements with Irish crenellations. Another unusual feature for a church is the machicolation built above the door in the south wall. The church and tower also have a pronounced base batter. It originally had four ogee headed windows with cut sandstone surrounds, divided between the north and south walls.

Sheela na gig above northern window

The massive tower at the west end of the church was to provide security for the clergy who lived here during these turbulent times. As you walk up the track to the church, it looks very stocky and apart from the crenellations a quite plain looking building. But there are a few very interesting surprises, the most notable of these being the sheela-na-gig sitting above the first window of the northern wall. The sheela is in a squatting position with her arms around her legs holding her vulva open. Sheela na gigs are grotesque looking female figures (hags), usually skull-headed and displaying their vulva. Though now mostly found in Ireland and Britain they are thought to have originated in France. Immediately above the northern door is the head of an ecclesiastic and on the western wall of the tower is another head carving.

Ecclesiastic head above northern door

Head on the west wall of the tower

Situated: From Dublin take the M4 West. At Kinnegad change to N4 for Mullingar. At exit 11 take the R394 north. At Crookedwood take a right turn, signposted 'St Munna's Church' . Drive down here for about 2 kilometres , the church is on your right

Discovery Map 41: 4856 6148. Last visit February 2011.

Longitude: 7° 15' 59" W

Latitude: 53° 36' 3" N

Google Map

Photos: Jim Dempsey.

Machicolation


St Munna's Church The fortified church at Taghmon was built as a parish church around the middle of the 15th century. It is situated on the site of a late 6th century monastery founded by St Munna, aka St Fintan. The church is a single cell with a barrel vaulted roof. A delightful feature of the church is the battlements with Irish crenellations. Another unusual feature for a church is the machicolation built above the door in the south wall. The church and tower also have a pronounced base batter. It originally had four ogee headed windows with cut sandstone surrounds, divided between the north and south walls.
Sheela na gig above northern window	The massive tower at the west end of the church was to provide security for the clergy who lived here during these turbulent times. As you walk up the track to the church, it looks very stocky and apart from the crenellations a quite plain looking building. But there are a few very interesting surprises, the most notable of these being the sheela-na-gig sitting above the first window of the northern wall. The sheela is in a squatting position with her arms around her legs holding her vulva open. Sheela na gigs are grotesque looking female figures (hags), usually skull-headed and displaying their vulva. Though now mostly found in Ireland and Britain they are thought to have originated in France. Immediately above the northern door is the head of an ecclesiastic and on the western wall of the tower is another head carving.
Ecclesiastic head above northern door	Head on the west wall of the tower
Situated: From Dublin take the M4 West. At Kinnegad change to N4 for Mullingar. At exit 11 take the R394 north. At Crookedwood take a right turn, signposted 'St Munna's Church' . Drive down here for about 2 kilometres , the church is on your right Discovery Map 41: 4856 6148. Last visit February 2011. Longitude: 7° 15' 59" W Latitude: 53° 36' 3" N Google Map Photos: Jim Dempsey.	Machicolation