Carrick Church facts for kids
Carrick Church, also known as Teampall Carraig, is an old church located in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It sits about one mile north-west of the village of Derrygonnelly, right by the shore of Carrick Lough. This church is a very old building from the late Middle Ages.
Contents
Building the Church
Who Built Carrick Church?
Carrick Church was built in 1483 by a local leader named Gilbert O'Flanagan II and his wife, Margaret. They built it to honor God and Mary. The O'Flanagan family were important leaders, or "chieftains," of an area called Tuatha Rátha. This area is now known as the Barony of Magheraboy. The O'Flanagan family also provided many priests for other churches nearby. Their main home was in the townland of Aghamore, also on the shores of Carrick Lake.
A Sad Event in History
Sadly, in 1528, a tragic event happened at the church. According to old records called the Annals of Ulster, Gilleece O'Flanagan and his son Turlough were both killed inside the chapel on the same day by Patrick O'Flanagan. 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.
Later Years of Carrick Church
A Place of Worship for Locals
Carrick Church might have been used as a place of worship for local people for a long time. There are no records of other Roman Catholic churches in the area during that period. Another nearby church, Inishmacsaint, was taken over by new settlers. The local landlord, Hume, did not build a new church until 1688.
The Graveyard and Ruins
Even though the church building became a ruin and was dangerous, the graveyard around it was still used by local families until about 1930. You can still see many old gravestones scattered around the grounds. Some of these markers even have clear writings from the late 1700s.
Special Features
The Well of the Eyes
Close to the church ruins, there is a special well called Tobarnasuil. This name comes from the Irish words Tobar na Súil, which means "well of the eyes." People believed that the water from this well had special healing powers, especially for eye problems.
Protecting History
Carrick Church and its graveyard, located in Aghamore townland, are very important historical sites. They are protected as "Scheduled Historic Monuments." In December 2012, important work was finished to help keep the old ruins safe. This work was watched over by the Ulster Archaeological Heritage Society. It helped to stop the church from falling apart even more.
See also
