St. Patrick's Church, Duleek is a medieval church and

National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a spec ...

in County Meath, Ireland. It is believed to have been the first stone church built in Ireland.

Location

St. Patrick's Church is located just north of Church Lane in Duleek, northwest of the Nanny River.

History

According to tradition, St Patrick established a bishopric here c. AD 450 and placed it in the care of Saint

Cianán St. Cianán, or Kenan, (died 24 November 489) was a Bishop of Duleek in Ireland. He was descended from the royal blood of the kings of Munster. His feast day is 24 November. Life He was a pupil of the monk Nathan. As a youth, he was one of th ...

in 489. It acquires its name from the Irish ''damhliag'', "stone house," as it is believed to have been the first stone church in Ireland. It is mentioned in the

Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' ( ga, Annála Uladh) are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, ...

for AD 724. Other churches were known as ''

dairthech In Gaelic Ireland, between the 5th and 9th centuries AD, a ''dairthech'' (literally "oak-house") was a type of oratory or church built of oak-wood. Histories The ''dairthech'' was the earliest kind of church built in Ireland, from the earliest ...

'', " oak house," as they were made of oak wood. Duleek was sacked by Vikings in 830. In 1014 the bodies of Brian Boru and his son

Murchad mac Briain Murchad mac Briain was the son and heir of Brian Boru, a High King of Ireland. He was the de facto leader of his father's army, killed on 23 April 1014 at the Battle of Clontarf. Biography In 1013 there was a rebellion by Máel Mórda, the Kin ...

lay in state at Duleek. The Vikings plundered it again in 1149 and the Normans in 1171.

Church

St. Patrick's Church, Duleek is a simple rectangular structure. The northeast wall is partially missing and the southwest wall is completely absent. There is a pointed doorway of undressed stone in the southeast wall. A limestone slab in the wall reads ÓR DO SCANLA_N ("pray for Scanlain").

References

{{Reflist Former churches in County Meath Archaeological sites in County Meath National monuments in County Meath