kids encyclopedia robot

Labbamolaga Church facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Labbamolaga Church
Leaba Molaga
Labbamolloga Church 5th Century.JPG
Labbamolaga Church is located in Ireland
Labbamolaga Church
Labbamolaga Church
Location in Ireland
52°18′39″N 8°20′52″W / 52.310764°N 8.347678°W / 52.310764; -8.347678
Location Labbamolaga Middle, Mitchelstown, County Cork
Country Ireland
Denomination Pre-Reformation Catholic
History
Dedication St. Molaga
Relics held St. Molaga
Architecture
Functional status ruined
Style Celtic Christian
Closed by 16th century
Specifications
Length 11.8 m (39 ft)
Width 7.2 m (24 ft)
Number of floors 1
Floor area 85 m2 (910 sq ft)
Materials stone, mortar
Administration
Diocese Cloyne

Labbamolaga Church is an ancient church building in County Cork, Ireland. It is now a ruin, but it is also a special place called a National Monument. This means it is protected because of its history.

Where is Labbamolaga Church?

Labbamolaga Church is found about 7.3 kilometers (4.5 miles) northwest of Mitchelstown. It sits on the east side of the Monaheancree Stream.

A Look at Its History

Ancient Stones and Legends

Right next to the church, you can see four very old standing stones. These stones were put there during the Bronze Age, thousands of years ago. They might have been part of a stone circle.

There's a fun local story about these stones! People used to say they were four thieves. The story goes that these thieves stole a special cup (a chalice) and other important items from the church. As punishment, they were turned into stone!

Saint Molaga and Beekeeping

In the 7th century AD, a holy person named Saint Molaga started a church and a monastery here. He is also the person who gave his name to another place called Timoleague. Saint Molaga is famous for something else too: people believe he was the first to bring beekeeping to Ireland!

The Oratory and Its Special Stone

Around the year 900 AD, a small chapel, called an oratory, was built here. It was made to be a special tomb for Saint Molaga. Inside, there is a limestone slab with carvings. This stone is known as Leaba Molaige, which means "Molaga's Bed."

An old book called the Book of Lismore mentions this place as Eidhnen Molaige. This means "Molaige's ivy-covered church." For a long time, local people believed that touching Saint Molaga's tombstone could help cure rheumatism, a type of joint pain.

The church eventually became a ruin by the 16th century.

What the Church Looks Like

The Main Church Building

LabbamolagaMonastery
An angled view of the church

The main church building is a large, rectangular structure. It was built in the Romanesque style, which was popular in Europe a long time ago.

The Oratory's Design

Leabamologga
The old doorway

The oratory is also rectangular, measuring about 6.33 meters (20.8 feet) long and 4.45 meters (14.6 feet) wide. Its western doorway is made from three very large stones. Some people think these stones might have come from the ancient megaliths nearby. This could show how Christianity took the place of older beliefs.

The Cross Slab

In the old graveyard, there is a special stone called a cross slab. On one side, it has a Celtic cross carved into it. On the other side, you can see a Latin cross.

Cursing-stones

Underneath a stone slab, there are several round hollows called bullauns. These were known as clocha mealachta, which means "stones of rebuke."

See also

kids search engine
Labbamolaga Church Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.