Carrick Church facts for kids
Carrick Church (also known as Teampall Carraig) is an old church ruin in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It's about one mile north-west of the village of Derrygonnelly, right by the shore of Carrick Lough.
This church was built a long time ago, in the late Middle Ages. A local leader named Gilbert O'Flanagan II and his wife Margaret built it in 1483. They built it "in Honour of God and Mary." The O'Flanagan family was very important in this area. They were the leaders of a territory called Tuatha Rátha, which is now known as the Barony of Magheraboy. Their main home was in a place called Baile Uí Fhlanagain, in the townland of Aghamore, also on Carrick Lake. Many members of the O'Flanagan family became priests for other churches nearby.
The O'Flanagan family faced many challenges over the years. Historical records from the Annals of Ulster tell us that in 1528, Gilleece O'Flanagan and his son Turlough died in the chapel on the same day. Gilbert II, who built the church, passed away in 1496. His wife, Margaret, was from the powerful Maguire family of Fermanagh. When she died, she was buried at the Abbey in Donegal.
Carrick Church likely served as a place of worship for the local people for many years. There are no records of other Roman Catholic churches in the area during a difficult time known as the Penal Laws. During this period, laws in Ireland made it hard for Catholics to practice their religion openly. Another nearby church, Inishmacsaint church, was taken over by new settlers. The local landowner, Mr. Hume, did not build a new church until 1688. Even though Carrick Church became a ruin, its graveyard was still used by local families until about 1930. You can still see many old gravestones there, some with dates from the late 1700s.
The Well of the Eyes
Near the church ruins, there is a special well called Tobarnasuil. Its name comes from the Irish words Tobar na Súil, which means "well of the eyes." People say that the water from this well has healing powers, especially for eye problems.
Protecting History
Carrick Church and its graveyard are located in Aghamore townland. They are considered important historical sites and are protected as Scheduled Historic Monuments. In December 2012, some important work was done to make the old ruins safer and stop them from falling apart even more. This work was carefully watched over by the Ulster Archaeological Heritage Society.
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