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) |
| Floor area | 160 m2 (1,700 sq ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Tuam |
Killursa is an old, ruined church in County Galway, Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish words Cill Fhursa, which means "the church of Fursa". People believe that St. Fursa, a saint from the 600s, started a monastery here. The church building itself was built in the 1100s. It was designed in a style called Romanesque. Today, the church is surrounded by a large graveyard with both very old and newer graves. This special place is protected as a national monument.
Contents
What Killursa Looks Like
This church is now a roofless ruin, but it still stands in a large graveyard. You can find it about 1.5 miles west of Headford, which is north of Galway city in Ireland. The building is shaped like a rectangle. It is about 22.5 meters long and 7 meters wide.
Church Design and Details
The church was built in the Romanesque style. This is an old way of building that was popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. It often uses round arches and thick walls. Killursa has some interesting features. These include a window with a stone bar down the middle, which is called a mullioned window. It also has a special doorway called a trabeate doorway. At the east end of the church, there is a stone altar.
The Graveyard
The graveyard around Killursa Church has many different gravestones. Some are very old, while others are more recent. You can see beautiful Celtic crosses carved into some stones. There are also symbols and words written in both Irish and Latin. Many of the oldest gravestones that are still standing date back to the 1700s. Near the entrance to the graveyard, there is a statue of Saint Fursa.
Killursa's History
People believe that a monastery was started here, or very close by, in the 600s. It was founded by Saint Fursa near the shore of Lough Corrib. Saint Fursa was famous in old stories for his amazing visions of angels and what happens after life.
The church building we see today was built later, around the 1100s or 1200s. It was once known by the name "Furnee." The church was likely used for many years, probably until the 1700s. After that, it was no longer used and slowly became the ruin you see today.
See also
- Clonfert Cathedral
- Drumacoo
