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as it then was. The doorway was 1.76 feet (0.54 m) wide at the top and 2.17 feet (0.66 m) wide at the foot. This seems to have been the west end or gable of an ancient church. Above the doorway there were three human heads sculpted in stone. The middle one was very badly weathered but the other heads still preserved their features. These
Romanesque heads may date to the 15th century. This would mean that the earlier building, identified as Saint Luchtighern's oratory, was renovated around this time, when the church was also renovated. The heads are still visible, but have been re-arranged so the central head is now one that is in good condition.
49:
354:
carved three faces on a stone, representing himself and the deacons, and said that heaven would show who was right. Soon the face of the skeptic was worn away, while the other two faces remained. There is a stone in the
Tomfinlough graveyard wall with two raised solid circles on its face, about six inches in diameter. On has a rounded face and other a flat face with a small cross roughly engraved on it. It is called the "plague stone", and is associated with the legend.
338:
older than the rest of the gable. The church had another door in the south side, and several windows, some divided into two, of different ages. One of the windows was decorated in the interior with carved human heads, much weathered. Another window appeared to date to at least the first part of the 10th century. In July 1907 the north wall of the ruined "old Abbey of Fenloe" collapsed.
56:
218:. It included many valuable gold items, including three gorgets that were given to the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, and many rings, bracelets and other items. The total weight was over 174 ounces (4,900 g). Most of the treasure was sold to private bidders. It may have been booty collected by the Danes and buried after they were defeated by
178:: Ayleacotty, Ballycar, Boheraroan, Caherkine, Caherscooby, Carrowmeer, Carrownakilly, Finlough, Granaghan, Granaghan Beg, Granaghan More, Kilnacrandy, Langough, Mausnarylaan, Mooghaun North, Mooghaun South, Muckanagh (Butler), Muckanagh (Studdert), Muckanagh (Vandeleur), Newmarket, Rathlaheen North, Rathlaheen South and Snugborough.
349:
In 1839 a section of wall 9 feet (2.7 m) high and 12 feet (3.7 m) long stood about 180 feet (55 m) to the southeast of the church. It had large cut stones at its ends, like the angles of a house gable, and a doorway in the center 4.75 feet (1.45 m) high measured from ground level
353:
A traditional story tells of
Luchtigern curing a woman inflicted by the plague, who came to him when he was working in the field at Tomfinlough with two deacons. One of the deacons was greatly impressed, and attributed the cure to God working through the saint. The other was skeptical. Luchtigern
337:
The church in 1839 measured 71 by 25 feet (21.6 by 7.6 m), with walls 15 feet (4.6 m) high and 2.8 feet (0.85 m) thick. There was a pointed doorway in the west gable 4.75 feet (1.45 m) high and 3.5 feet (1.1 m) wide. The lower 4 feet (1.2 m) of the gable seemed much
213:
The lands of
Trataidhe were both fertile and vulnerable, and were often raided. The Danes destroyed the original church in 944. In 1854 a hoard of buried treasure hidden in a small stone chamber was unearthed in the Mooghaun North townland during the construction of the
328:
The old church of
Tomfinlough incorporates portions that are extremely old with more modern changes and additions. Large blocks of limestone in the southwest of the site are traces of a pre-Norman building which could date to the 10th century. Around 1300 the
143:, Ireland. A Christian establishment was first made here around 540 AD. The parish lands were often raided by Irish, Viking, Norman and English forces in the years that followed. The church was allowed to fall into ruins during the period when the
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333:
family restored the church and added at least two sandstone windows to the south and east walls. The building was restored again around 1480, and a new limestone-cut window was inserted in the east wall.
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The church was closed during the Penal Law period. In 1744 the High
Sheriff for Clare, John Westropp, reported to the authorities that, "I have according to your instructions made strict search in
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206:. They asked Saint Ailbhe to persuade Saint MacCreiche, their relative, to return and plead for them with the king of Connaught. Mac Chreiche agreed, and came with his disciple
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who lived around 540, and probably belonged to the
Trataidhe tribe. When the forces of Connaught were plundering the district of
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727:
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The
History and Topography of the County of Clare: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the 18th Century
191:
1299:
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995:
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824:
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207:
1005:
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A Survey of
Monuments of Archaeological and Historical Interest in the Barony of Bunratty Lower, Co. Clare
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or Fenloe. The name "Tomfinlough" means Tomb or
Tumulus of the Fair Lake. It is in the barony of
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and in several other places where we had the least suspicion of priests and had the army from
226:, the abbot Scannlan died in 944, and the lecturer Tuathal O’Muirgheasa died in 1049. In 1054
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to assist me - but could find none. We have locked and nailed up all the Mass houses."
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There is a holy well near the church, where stations were still performed in 1839.
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in County Clare, about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the village of
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MacNamara, Geo. U. (31 December 1907). "Tomfinlough Church, Co. Clare".
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The ruined parish church stands at the northern end of the lake named
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Tuamfinlough is the oldest known settlement in the region of
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After the laws were relaxed, Tomfinlough became part of the
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refers to civil parishes which span two different baronies
675:
The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
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deanery named Tradrai'gha, which included the parishes of
764:
Ryan, William Gerrard (1980). "32: Tomfinlough Parish".
681:(4). Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland: 406–408.
190:. Tomfinlough is said to have been founded by Saint
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375:O'Donovan (1856) incorrectly places Tomfinlough in
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404:Tuaim Fhionnlocha, Placenames Database of Ireland
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695:"Map of Tomfinlough Parish showing Townlands"
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711:"Newmarket-on-Fergus: Historical Background"
478:Map of Tomfinlough Parish showing Townlands
381:Parliamentary Gazetteer: Barony of Bunratty
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852:
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493:Newmarket-on-Fergus: Historical Background
256:which also contains the civil parishes of
20:
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614:"Barony of Bunratty (Lower and Upper)".
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280:. In 1856 the parish was also part of a
726:O'Donovan, John; Curry, Eugene (1839).
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658:County Clare: A History and Topography
748:. Hodges, Smith and Company. p.
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167:. The parish contains the village of
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7:
572:
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825:"County Clare Folk-Tales and Myths"
655:Lewis, Samuel (1837). "Ardsallis".
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617:Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland
202:, the people sent a deputation to
174:The parish contains the following
14:
823:Westropp, Thomas Johnson (2014).
810:. CUP Archive. GGKEY:9LSHCJXWTRL
745:Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland
316:, Tomfinlough and the island of
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874:Baronies and civil parishes of
1497:Civil parishes of County Clare
788:Placenames Database of Ireland
222:(died 1014). According to the
18:Civil parish in Clare, Ireland
1:
804:"Ireland in the Heroic Age"
234:and sacked Tuaimfionlocha.
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427:O'Donovan & Curry 1839
230:and the Connacians raided
224:Annals of the Four Masters
216:Limerick and Ennis Railway
194:, a contemporary of Saint
147:was penalized in Ireland.
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728:"Ordnance Survey Letters"
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42:
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742:O'Donovan, John (1856).
379:. But see, for example,
192:Luchtighern mac-ui-Trato
996:Clooney, Bunratty Upper
808:The Early Age of Greece
454:Barony of Bunratty 1845
139:) is a civil parish in
770:. Clare County Library
713:. Clare County Library
697:. Clare County Library
136:
93:52.782254°N 8.838009°W
633:Frost, James (1893).
802:Wace, A.J.B (1931).
98:52.782254; -8.838009
1359:Kilfearagh (Kilkee)
784:"Tuaim Fhionnlocha"
254:Newmarket-on-Fergus
188:Newmarket-on-Fergus
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1218:Kilmurry Ibrickane
1155:Clooney, Corcomroe
639:. author. p.
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829:Clare Library
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74:Coordinates:
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1476:
1403:Killokennedy
1354:Kilballyowen
977:
961:Kilnasoolagh
891:
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876:County Clare
832:. Retrieved
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37:Civil parish
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1438:Tulla Upper
1418:Kiltenanlea
1385:Tulla Lower
1374:Kilmacduane
1336:Inishcaltra
1223:Kilmacduane
1175:Kilmanaheen
1099:Clonderalaw
1064:Killonaghan
1021:Templemaley
1006:Inchicronan
978:Tomfinlough
940:Kilfintinan
935:Kilfinaghta
243:Clarecastle
196:Mac Creiche
129:Tomfinlough
96: /
62:Tomfinlough
25:Tomfinlough
1461:Tuamgraney
1428:Ogonnelloe
1290:Clareabbey
1180:Kilmacrehy
1170:Kiltoraght
1107:Kilchreest
1089:Rathborney
1049:Drumcreehy
1011:Kilraghtis
951:Kilmaleery
915:Clonloghan
556:Frost 1893
520:Frost 1893
466:Lewis 1837
358:References
306:Kilmaleery
290:Clonloghan
274:Kilmaleery
262:Clonloghan
252:parish of
157:Finn Lough
81:52°46′56″N
1327:Kilbarron
1300:Drumcliff
1295:Clondagad
1262:Kilnamona
1234:Inchiquin
1208:Kilfarboy
1200:Ibrickane
1190:Kilshanny
1185:Killilagh
1160:Kilfenora
1147:Corcomroe
1117:Kilfidane
1112:Kildysart
1084:Oughtmama
1079:Noughaval
1059:Kilcorney
1054:Gleninagh
573:Ryan 1980
532:Wace 1931
391:Citations
200:Corcomroe
176:townlands
169:Ardsallis
84:8°50′17″W
1491:Category
1477:* (part)
1413:Kilseily
1408:Killuran
1398:Killaloe
1331:Clonrush
1310:Kilmaley
1257:Kilnaboy
1252:Kilkeedy
1132:Kilmihil
1127:Killofin
1122:Killimer
1069:Killeany
945:Killeely
930:Kilconry
920:Drumline
910:Bunratty
793:10 April
687:25507640
664:13 April
383:(1845).
331:de Clare
314:Killowen
302:Kilconry
294:Drumline
286:Bunratty
270:Kilconry
266:Drumline
258:Bunratty
250:Catholic
151:Location
1393:Clonlea
1369:Moyarta
1364:Kilrush
1346:Moyarta
1320:Leitrim
1305:Killone
1282:Islands
1213:Killard
1074:Kilmoon
925:Feenagh
834:5 March
814:5 March
774:5 March
755:5 March
733:5 March
717:5 March
701:5 March
646:5 March
624:9 March
607:Sources
298:Feenagh
232:Thomond
208:Manchín
182:History
112:Ireland
109:Country
1456:Moynoe
1451:Kilnoe
1446:Feakle
1376:(part)
1242:Dysert
1225:(part)
1044:Carran
1031:Burren
974:(part)
968:(part)
947:(part)
885:Barony
685:
620:. 1845
324:Church
117:County
1466:Tulla
1247:Inagh
1039:Abbey
1001:Doora
683:JSTOR
363:Notes
239:Ennis
133:Irish
121:Clare
1272:Ruan
1267:Rath
1016:Quin
836:2014
816:2014
795:2014
776:2014
757:2014
735:2014
719:2014
703:2014
666:2014
648:2014
626:2014
276:and
204:Emly
750:655
641:191
1493::
827:.
806:.
786:.
679:37
677:.
563:^
500:^
485:^
434:^
411:^
320:.
312:,
308:,
304:,
300:,
296:,
292:,
288:,
272:,
268:,
264:,
260:,
171:.
135::
867:e
860:t
853:v
838:.
818:.
797:.
778:.
759:.
737:.
721:.
705:.
689:.
668:.
650:.
628:.
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575:.
495:.
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468:.
456:.
429:.
406:.
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