Westropp — On the Churches of Count;/ Clare. 155 



111. KiLLANA, Sheet 36. — Tomgraney Parish. A graveyard with some 



blocks of cut stone traditionally belonging to a church. 



112. MoYJsroE, Sheet 29. — Parish church. 60 feet 9 inches by 23 feet 



9 inches. Only the eastern gable and fragments of the adjoin- 

 walls remain. The window has two high Gothic lights, and 

 probably dates about 1280. Founder, Caimin of Iniscaltra is 

 said to have founded Maghneo n-Oirbriughe about a.d. 630. 

 Mochonna was also of Magheo. The bui'ning of its precinct 

 in 1310 precipitated the civil war, 1311-1318. It was then 

 the chief sanctuary of the 0' Grady s of Cinel Donghaile. 

 "Mago," 1302. 



113 to 119. Iniscaltea^ (Holt Isiaistd), Lough Deeg, Sheet 136 of Co 

 Galway. — An important group of churches founded by Caimin 

 (half brother of Guaire " the hospitable " chief of Hy Fiachra 

 Aidhne) before a.d. 640. However, we find earlier records, 

 such as the death of^^Colan of Iniscealtra, a.d. 552. Probably 

 Caimin may have founded the stone chui'ches. The place was 

 an important monastery and school, Caiminhaving been a learned 

 scholar and acquainted with Hebrew. Lying on a great water- 

 way, the island suffered much from the E^orsemen. It was 

 called Inis Celtra in 838. In a.d. 922 the Danes ravaged it 

 and "drowned its relics and shrines."^ Brian Boru restored its 

 ehui'ches, circa a.d. 1000. " Inysgeltra," 1302. The parish 

 was eventually partly given to County Galway, but always 

 remained part of the see of Killaloe. The island, which was 

 popularly regarded as part of County Clare, was formally 



1 In the Ordnance Survey Letters of Galway (MSS., 14 D. 2, R. I. A.), Nov. 

 19tli, 1838. The names of the churches given in the descriptions (which are very 

 ■carefully written) and the sketch map of Iniscaltra are different from those 

 in the puhlished maps of the Ordnance Survey. The nameless site on the map to 

 the west of the round tower is " Garadh Mhicheail " on the sketch map and "the 

 church of St. Michael" in the Letters. The "church and garden of St. Michael 

 on the Ordnance Survey Maps are " The Baptism Church " of the sketch maps and 

 Letters. The " Church of Baptism " on the Ordnance Survey Map is the " church 

 of the wounded men" of the sketch map and Letters. I found on my first visit 

 in 1877 that St. Caimin's and St. Mary's were the only church names known to 

 my hoatman. Again, in 1885, I was assured that the church near St. Mary's was 

 not known as St. Michael's, so I take this opportunity of marking this gross 

 inaccuracy of the 1839 map — a fault so unusual in the noble series of maps of the 

 period. 



2 "Wars of the Gaedhil with the Gaill," p. 13. 



