Killursa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killursa |
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Cill Fhursa
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 Killursa
Location in Ireland
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| 53°28′04″N 9°08′42″W / 53.467762°N 9.144907°W | |
| Location | Ower, Headford, County Galway |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Catholic (pre-Reformation) |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Kildaree Church |
| Dedication | Saint Fursey |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | ruined |
| Style | Anglo-Norman |
| Years built | 12th century AD |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 22.5 m (74 ft) |
| Width | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Floor area | 160 m2 (1,700 sq ft) |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Tuam |
Killursa is an old church and a special national monument located in County Galway, Ireland. It's a really interesting place to visit!
This church is found near Headford, about 2.6 km (1.6 mi) west of the town. It has a rectangular shape, built in an early style called Early Christian or Romanesque. An eight-sided tower was added to one corner around the 1400s. The church itself dates back to the 1100s. Some people think Saint Fursey might have founded it. The building you see today is mostly from the 1500s.
Killursa is famous for its old wall paintings, called frescoes. These paintings were made before the Reformation, a big change in the Christian church. They are some of the best examples in all of Ireland! You can see a picture of the Crucifixion and other scenes from the life of Jesus. An artist known as the Master of Ballina probably painted them around the mid-1300s. The paintings got a bit damaged by dampness in the 1700s, but they were carefully fixed up in the 1990s.
Contents
Where is Killursa Church Located?
Killursa is found in County Galway, Ireland. It's about 2.6 km (1.6 mi) west of a town called Headford. This makes it easy to find if you are exploring the area.
A Look Back: The History of Killursa
Early Beginnings
A monastery was first built here way back in the 600s. This was started by a famous person named Saint Fursey (also known as Fursa). Monasteries were important places for learning and prayer in those times.
Building the Church
The church building you see today was built later, sometime in the 1100s or 1200s. However, some parts of the church, especially the southwest side, might be even older! The church stopped being used around the 1400s.
What Does Killursa Church Look Like?
The church has a rectangular shape. It features windows with mullions, which are vertical stone bars that divide the window into sections. These windows are in a style called Late Gothic. The main entrance is a trabeate doorway, which means it has a flat stone beam across the top.
