Killursa

Killursa is a medieval church and National Monument in County Galway, Ireland.[5][6] The church is located on the outskirts of Westport, about east-northeast of the town of Galway. It has a rectangular mass in the Early Christian or Romanesque style, with an octagonal tower at its northeast corner. The tower was apparently added in the 15th century. The church is datable from the 12th century, and may have been founded by St. Columba. The current structure is from the 16th century.

Killursa
Cill Fhursa
Killursa is located in Ireland
Killursa
Killursa
53.467762°N 9.144907°W / 53.467762; -9.144907
LocationOwer, Headford, County Galway
CountryIreland
DenominationCatholic (pre-Reformation)
History
Former name(s)Kildaree Church[1][2][3]
DedicationSaint Fursey
Architecture
Functional statusruined
StyleAnglo-Norman
Years built12th century AD
Specifications
Length22.5 m (74 ft)
Width7 m (23 ft)
Number of floors1
Floor area160 m2 (1,700 sq ft)
Materialsstone
Administration
DioceseTuam
Official nameKillursa
Reference no.231[4]

The church is notable for the pre-Reformation frescoes, which are some of the best in Ireland. These include a depiction of the Crucifixion, and other scenes from the Life of Christ. The paintings are attributed to the Master of Ballina, who is traditionally thought to have been active in the mid-14th century. The frescoes were damaged by dampness in the 18th century, and were restored in the 1990s.

Location

Killursa is located 2.6 km (1.6 mi) west of Headford.[7]

History

A monastery was established here in the 7th century by Saint Fursey (Fursa).[8]

The church on the current site dates from the 12th or 13th century, although the southwestern part is thought to be even older.[9][10] It fell out of use around the 15th century.[11][12]

Description

The church is rectangular with mullioned Late Gothic window and trabeate doorway.[13]

References
  1. "KillursaChurch". irishantiquities.bravehost.com.
  2. "National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship: Galway" (PDF). National Monuments Service. 4 March 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. de Valera, Ruaidhri; O Nuallain, Sean (1972). Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland: Vol III (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. p. xv. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. "National Monuments of County Galway in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 7. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  5. "Killursa Church, Headford - TripAdvisor". www.tripadvisor.ie.
  6. Carroll, Michael Henry (30 November 2017). Valley of the Milk: A History of the Carroll Family of Luggawannia, Headford, Co. Galway. M.H. Carroll. ISBN 9780953650002 – via Google Books.
  7. Carlisle, Nicholas (30 November 2017). "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland: Exhibiting the Names of the Several Cities, Towns, Parishes, and Villages ... Collected from the Most Authentic Documents, and Arranged in Alphabetical Order. Being a Continuation of the Topography of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". W. Miller – via Google Books.
  8. "St. Fursa - Patron Saint of Killursa". www.lalley.com.
  9. Spellissy, Sean (1 January 1999). The history of Galway. Celtic Bookshop. ISBN 9780953468331 – via Google Books.
  10. O'Flaherty, Roderic (30 November 2017). "A Chorographical Description of West Or H-Iar Connaught: Written A.D. 1684". For the Irish Archaeological Society – via Google Books.
  11. "Killursa Church, Galway, Ireland". 19 August 2015.
  12. Byrne, Dick (30 November 2017). Galway on the Bay. Dundurn. ISBN 9781900935258 – via Google Books.
  13. "Killursa Church / Cill Fhursa". Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 31 May 2021.


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