Stradbally

Medieval Parish Church and Rock Art

Stradbally Church is beautifully situated on the road to Stradbally Beach. We would strongly recommend the walk to view the stunning landscape at Ballinknockane Bay. From records we know that a parish church existed here in 1302 but the fabric of the present church ruin is dated to the late 15th/early 16th century. The church was in good repair in 1615 but was in ruins by the middle of the 18th century. The north and south walls, plus the east gable, with it's two-light ogee-headed window still survive but the west gable is now missing. There are two single-light ogee-headed windows in the almost 16 metre long south wall, plus the pointed doorway pictured below right. both of these windows have external hood moulding. There is another ogee-headed window at the east end of the north wall, almost hidden by the vegetation in the image below. Next to a window opening in the south wall is a piscina and a small aumbry, a place for storing liturgical vessels. The piscina has a central drain with a radially fluted circular basin, pictured immediately below the pointed doorway.