Taghmon Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taghmon Church |
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| St. Munna's Church | |
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Tigh Munna
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 Taghmon Church
Location in Ireland
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| 53°36′03″N 7°15′59″W / 53.600833°N 7.266389°W | |
| Location | Taghmon Glebe, Crookedwood, County Westmeath |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Fintán of Taghmon (Munnu) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Years built | early 15th century |
| Specifications | |
| Number of floors | 4 |
| Materials | sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Meath |
Taghmon Church is a very old church in County Westmeath, Ireland. It's also known as St. Munna's Church. This special building is considered a National Monument, which means it's protected because of its history and importance. It was built to be like a mini-fortress!
Contents
Where is Taghmon Church?
Taghmon Church is located about 1.8 kilometers (just over a mile) east of a village called Crookedwood. It's also southeast of a beautiful lake, Lough Derravaragh.
A Look Back in Time: The History of Taghmon Church
Early Beginnings: A Monastery in the 7th Century
The story of Taghmon Church began a very long time ago, in the 7th century. That's over 1300 years ago! A monastery was first set up here by a saint named Fintán. He was also known as Munna or Munnu, which is why the church is sometimes called St. Munna's.
Building a Fortified Church in the 1400s
The church you see today, built like a small castle, was constructed in the early 15th century. This means it was built in the 1400s. Back then, it was important for churches to have strong defenses. In 1452, the church was attacked and robbed by someone named Farrell Mageoghegan.
Changes Over the Centuries
After a big change in religion called the Reformation, the church became owned by the Nugent family. By 1622, it was almost completely ruined. But the church was brought back to life! By 1755, it was being used again by the Church of Ireland. It was fixed up a lot in 1843 to look its best.
Exploring Taghmon Church
Taghmon Church is built as a single room with a rounded, barrel-shaped roof. It has special castle-like tops called battlements with unique "Irish crenellations" (the up-and-down parts). There's also a machicolation above the door. This was a cool feature that allowed defenders to drop things on attackers below!
The church and its tower also have a wide, sloping base called a base-batter. This made the walls stronger and harder to climb. The tall tower at the west end of the church was a safe place for the clergy (church leaders) during dangerous times.
The Tower: A Home and a Hideout
The tower of Taghmon Church is four stories high. The first and third floors have strong, rounded ceilings called vaulted ceilings.
The second floor of the tower was where people lived. It had a fireplace to keep warm, window seats to relax, and even a "slop stone." This was a special channel in the wall used to get rid of waste water. Above this living area was a bedroom and a garderobe, which was an old-fashioned toilet!
The Mysterious Sheela-na-gig
Look closely above the first window on the north wall of the church. You might spot a sheela-na-gig. This is a carved figure, often found on old Irish churches and castles. These carvings are quite mysterious, and historians are still learning about their exact meaning and purpose.
