Carntemple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carntemple |
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 Carntemple
Location in Ireland
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| 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 Doora, County Clare, Ireland. It might have been built around the year 480 AD. Today, only its strong foundations remain.
Contents
Where is Carntemple Located?
Carntemple, or Kilbrecan, is in an area of Ireland that has many ancient religious buildings. An expert named Thomas Johnson Westropp explained that Brecan chose this spot carefully. It was a low, green hill near the Fergus River. From here, he could see across the whole plain of Clare. This was a great place for a mission.
Brecan built a church here. It became its own parish called Kilbrecan. This name was used for a long time, even into the 1300s. The name Kilbrecan is still used for two nearby areas. However, the very old foundations of the small church are now called Carntemple. There is also a holy well nearby called Tubberdooran.
Westropp also wrote that Carntemple is less than a mile north of Clare Abbey. It is also about a mile from Killoe church. Carntemple is thought to be the oldest monastery in County Clare. It was founded around the end of the 400s by Brecan. He was one of the first people to spread Christianity in the area.
An old map from 1842 shows the church was already in ruins. It was in the northern part of Noughaval townland. This is about 200 meters from the main road, which is now the L-4114 local road. The map also shows a burial ground for children next to the ruined church.
How Carntemple Was Founded
Brecan founded three churches near Ennis. One was Kilbrecan, or Carntemple. Its strong, old walls are now mostly flat and covered by plants. They are near the Toberdoon well. Another church he founded was Doora, which is a very old church from the 900s or 1000s. The third was Clooney Church.
Another historian, James Frost, wrote about Saint Breccan of Arran. He said that Breccan founded a church in Dalcais named after him. In Doora parish, there is an area called Kilbreckan. The ruined church called Carntemple stands there. This old building must be the church founded by Saint Breccan. Its features show that it is very, very old.
What Carntemple Looks Like Now
In 1900, Westropp described the ruins of Carntemple. He said it was about 20 feet long and 10 feet wide. The church has very old and strong foundations. Some of the stones are over 6 feet long. These foundations are in the Noughaval area and are called Carntemple. This site marks where Kilbrecan was, which was one of the first mission churches in Thomond. Its founder was Brecan, around 480 AD. In 1302, it was known as "Kellbrakyn" and was its own parish.
See also
- Doora Church, another ruined church nearby
