St. Patrick's Church, Duleek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Patrick's Church, Duleek |
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| St. Cianán's Church | |
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Daimhliag Chianáin
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9th century high cross associated with St Patrick's Church
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 St. Patrick's Church, Duleek
Location in Ireland
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| 53°39′19″N 6°25′12″W / 53.655268°N 6.420018°W | |
| Location | Church Lane, Duleek, County Meath |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Celtic Christianity |
| History | |
| Status | Ruins |
| Founder(s) | Saint Patrick |
| Past bishop(s) | Cianán |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | |
| Official name | St. Patrick's Church |
| Reference no. | 179 |
| Years built | 6th–7th centuries |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Width | 6.4 m (21 ft) |
| Height | 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Floor area | 52 m2 (560 sq ft) |
| Materials | limestone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Meath |
St. Patrick's Church, Duleek is an ancient church in County Meath, Ireland. It is also a National Monument, meaning it's a very important historical site. People believe this church was the very first one in Ireland built using stone.
Contents
Where is St. Patrick's Church Located?
St. Patrick's Church is found in a village called Duleek. It sits just north of Church Lane. The church is about 400 meters (a quarter-mile) northwest of the Nanny River.
The Story of St. Patrick's Church
This church has a long and exciting history!
How Old is the Church?
Tradition says that Saint Patrick himself started a church here around the year 450 AD. He put Saint Cianán in charge of it in 489 AD. The name "Duleek" comes from an old Irish word, damhliag, which means "stone house." This name was given because it was thought to be the first church in Ireland made of stone. Most other churches back then were called dairthech, or "oak house," because they were built from oak wood.
What Happened to the Church Over Time?
St. Patrick's Church is mentioned in old records called the Annals of Ulster from 724 AD. This shows how important it was.
Unfortunately, the church faced many attacks:
- In 830 AD, Vikings attacked and robbed Duleek.
- In 1014, the bodies of the famous Irish king Brian Boru and his son Murchad mac Briain were brought to Duleek to rest before burial.
- The Vikings attacked Duleek again in 1149.
- Later, in 1171, the Normans also plundered the area.
What Does the Church Look Like Today?
St. Patrick's Church, Duleek, is a simple building with a rectangular shape.
- Part of its northeast wall is missing.
- The southwest wall is completely gone.
- You can see a pointed doorway made of rough stone in the southeast wall.
- Inside one of the walls, there's a limestone slab. It has an old inscription that says "ÓR DO SCANLA_N," which means "pray for Scanlain."
