Kiltullagh Church ( ga, Cill Tulach, meaning 'church of the hills') is a former

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

church and burial site located in

County Roscommon "Steadfast Irish heart" , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Roscommon.svg , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Ireland , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Connacht , subdi ...

, Ireland. Several archaeological digs have taken place on the site that have revealed evidence of Christian activity on the site early as the fifth century. Evidence of earlier pagan worship and burials have also been found. The church is in ruin, the result of the actions of Cromwellian forces in the mid-17th century most likely headed by

Henry Ireton Henry Ireton ((baptised) 3 November 1611 – 26 November 1651) was an English general in the Parliamentarian army during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell. He died of disease outside Limerick in November 16 ...

. Evidence of an earlier wooden structure has also been found near to the site of the ruined stone church.

Location

Kiltullagh Church is located on Kiltullagh Hill, which is to the southwest of Ballinlough in

History

The history of Kiltullagh Church dates back to the fifth century. Archaeological digs have established Christian activity back to that date. Before that period, researchers have found evidence of pagan burials on the same site. Excavations by the University of Belfast have dated the remains of the current structure to 1441. The now-ruined building is believed to have been destroyed in the mid seventeenth century by forces under the command of

, the son of

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

, who was responsible for the majority of the destruction of the religious sites in Ireland at the time. Before the building of the present structure of the church, a monastery was situated on top of the hill. Though little is known about the older

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related Mendicant orders, mendicant Christianity, Christian Catholic religious order, religious orders within the Catholic Church. Founded in 1209 by Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi, these orders include t ...

Monastery, its foundations can be observed on the east side of the remaining structure, though much overgrown.

Building

Little of the original structure remain, The

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

and elements of the surrounding walls and transepts still clearly be seen. As the interior is in ruin, the nave is now used to house graves of the dead.

Present day

Although still part of the local parish, the church is infrequently used today due to its remote location and ruined state. Its chief use is for the visitation of relatives buried in its grounds, and as a viewpoint for

Lough O'Flynn Lough O'Flynn () is a freshwater lake in the west of Ireland. It is located in west County Roscommon and is the source of the River Suck. Name The name is from the Gaelic Irish tribe of the Ó Floinn, who ruled the region known as Síol Mae ...

. In the mid 2000s, a road was built by the local parish to facilitate access for tourists and religious processions. The most recent burial was in the 1990s.

References

{{reflist 5th-century churches 5th-century establishments in Ireland