Carntemple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carntemple |
|
|---|---|
 Carntemple
Location in Ireland
|
|
| 52°50′19″N 8°54′43″W / 52.838647°N 8.911838°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Ruined |
| Founded | c. 480 |
| Founder(s) | Saint Brecan |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Doora, County Clare |
Carntemple, also known as Kilbrecan, is an old ruined church in County Clare, Ireland. It might be one of the oldest churches in the area, possibly built around 480 AD. Today, only its strong, ancient foundations remain.
Where is Carntemple?
Carntemple is located in a part of County Clare that has many old religious buildings. It sits on a low, green ridge not far from the River Fergus. From this spot, you can see across the whole plain of Clare to distant mountains.
A long time ago, a man named Saint Brecan chose this special place to build a church. He was very good at picking important locations. His church became known as Kilbrecan. Even though the church is now called Carntemple, the name Kilbrecan is still used for two nearby areas. There is also a holy well nearby called Tubberdooran.
This area was important for travel and trade in the past. Other old churches are also close by, like Doora Church and Killoe.
An old map from 1842 shows that Carntemple was already a ruin back then. It was in the northern part of a place called Noughaval. The map also shows a special burial ground for children next to the ruined church.
Who Built Carntemple?
Historians believe that Saint Brecan founded this church. He was an early Christian missionary who helped spread Christianity in Ireland. He built three churches in the area, and Kilbrecan (Carntemple) was one of them.
The church is thought to be very old because of how it was built. Its strong, large stone foundations are typical of buildings from a very long time ago.
What Does Carntemple Look Like Now?
Today, Carntemple is mostly just its foundations. These foundations are very old and strong, with some stones over 6 feet (about 1.8 meters) long. The building itself was quite small, about 20 feet (6 meters) long and 10 feet (3 meters) wide.
It marks the spot of Kilbrecan, which was one of the first mission churches in this part of Ireland.
See also
- Doora Church, another ruined church nearby
