St. Dairbhile's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Dairbhile's Church |
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Teampall Deirbhile
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 St. Dairbhile's Church
Location in Ireland
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| 54°05′46″N 10°06′25″W / 54.096168°N 10.106915°W | |
| Location | Fallmore, Aughleam, County Mayo |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Celtic Christianity |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Years built | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 12.19 m (40.0 ft) |
| Width | 4.87 m (16.0 ft) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Materials | granite, ashlar |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Killala |
St. Dairbhile's Church is an old church from the Middle Ages. It is also a National Monument in County Mayo, Ireland. This means it is a very important historical site.
Contents
Where is St. Dairbhile's Church Located?
St. Dairbhile's Church is found about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) south of Aughleam. It is in a place called Fallmore, on the Mullet Peninsula. This peninsula is a long piece of land sticking out into the sea.
What is the History of St. Dairbhile's Church?
The first church here was built in the 6th century. That's a very long time ago! The church you see today was built later, in the 12th century.
The Legend of the West Window
There's a cool legend about the church's west window. People say that if you can squeeze through this window three times, you will never die from drowning. It sounds like a fun challenge!
The Story of St. Dairbhile
The church is named after a saint called Dairbhile (also spelled Darbiled). She lived in the 6th century and came from a place called Meath.
Legend says she traveled to the Mullet Peninsula to get away from someone who admired her. But he followed her! To make herself less attractive, she bravely gouged out her own eyes. When her admirer saw this, he was horrified and left.
After he left, she washed her eyes in a nearby well. Amazingly, her sight was restored! This special place is now known as St. Deirbhile's Well. Every year on August 15th, people gather for a special event called a pattern at the well.
What Does St. Dairbhile's Church Look Like?
St. Dairbhile's Church is a single-room church with a pointed roof (called a gable). Today, it is mostly in ruins, meaning it's not a complete building anymore.
The church has a narrow east window. This window is lined with smooth, cut stones called ashlar. It also has a deeply splayed shape, meaning it gets wider on the inside. The top of the window is curved, like an arch, and is made from a single stone (a lintel).
The west doorway is also narrow. Its sides (called jambs) are slanted, and the top is curved, just like the east window.
