St. Patrick's Church, Duleek

St. Patrick's Church, Duleek is a medieval church and National Monument in County Meath, Ireland. It is believed to have been the first stone church built in Ireland.[1]

St. Patrick's Church, Duleek
St. Cianán's Church
Daimhliag Chianáin
9th century high cross associated with St Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's Church, Duleek is located in Ireland
St. Patrick's Church, Duleek
St. Patrick's Church, Duleek
53°39′19″N 6°25′12″W
LocationChurch Lane, Duleek, County Meath
CountryIreland
DenominationCeltic Christianity
History
StatusRuins
Founder(s)Saint Patrick
Past bishop(s)Cianán
Architecture
Heritage designation
Official nameSt. Patrick's Church
Reference no.179
Years built6th–7th centuries
Specifications
Length12 m (39 ft)
Width6.4 m (21 ft)
Height2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Number of floors1
Floor area52 m2 (560 sq ft)
Materialslimestone
Administration
DioceseMeath

Location

St. Patrick's Church is located just north of Church Lane in Duleek, 400 m (1,300 ft) northwest of the Nanny River.[2]

History

According to tradition, St Patrick established a bishopric here c. AD 450 and placed it in the care of Saint Cianán 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 for AD 724. Other churches were known as dairthech, "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 lay in state at Duleek. The Vikings plundered it again in 1149 and the Normans in 1171.[3][4]

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").[5][6][7]

References
  1. "Saints and Stones: Duleek (Damhliag)".
  2. "Duleek, Meath Tourism - Ireland, Accommodation, Holidays, Vacations, Golf, Fishing, Castles, Maps". meath.ie. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  3. "The first stone built church in Ireland - Duleek Church 6th or 7th century a.d."
  4. "Duleek Church, Duleek. co. Meath c.6th or c.7th century a.d".
  5. "ME01242 - COMMONS (Duleek Lower By.) - Church - MeathHeritage.com". 6 December 2012.
  6. "Meath".
  7. "ArcGIS Web Application". maps.archaeology.ie. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
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