Ecclesiastic Ruins and Buildings

Lorrha has a rich ecclesiastical history evidenced by the ruins and active religious buildings within the village. The Roman Catholic Church of St. Ruadhan (c. 1912),^[9]

Dominican Friary

At the south of the village are the remains of a Dominican Friary founded in the 13th century by Walter de Burgh, Earl of Ulster.^[10] The remains consist of: 'It is an oblong uncompact pile of a building, measuring one hundred and twenty feet by twenty four within the walls, and the side walls about twenty-six feet in height. The windows are well proportioned and have stone mullions, which branch out into two parts at top. over most of them are partly flat arches, badly executed, but yet capable of supporting a weight which, perhaps the graceful ones beneath would not be sufficient to bear up. The East Gable is thrown down nearly to the foundation, which has greatly injured the beauty of the building, as the great window which it contained was wrought with elegance and taste. The West Gable, in which a handsome gothic window, is still entire, being raised to a considerable height above the proportion of the roof. It served for a belfry, for which purpose it still answers. Within about three feet of the top of the side walls, and continued for half the length of the entire building are projecting stones placed at equal distances asunder in which bellcasts were made in order that the water might descend without having any connection with the walls. The building which was continued above these dripstones served as a shield or break work to persons standing on the roof. There were formerly three ways of entrance into the abbey; one near the est end, facing the north, which is now built up; another in the west gable most likely to have been the principal; and the third fronting the south, but near the west end, the arched stones of which are picked out. At the left hand, just as you enter the abbey, by the last mentioned doorway, is a niche in the wall where will a short time ago, there was to be seen a wooden effigy of St. Ruaden, or Ruan, the founder. Of this image, nothing now remains but the head which is thrown about. As you pass towards the east end, you see the remains of a cross wall, which divided the building into nearly two equal parts; the east of which has the windows facing the south, and those of the west opposite the north, except two which look to the south. There are a great number of stone tablets inserted in the walls, most of which are highly ornamented, and bear Latin inscriptions. On one of these, which is of highly polished marble, is the coat of arms of the Mac Egan family.' ^[11]

Site of St Ruadhan's Church

To the east of the village stands the Church of Ireland^[12] on the site of St. Ruadhan's church which was built c. 1000 AD and was itself built on the site of St. Ruadhan's Abbey, founded in the 6th century. Remains of two 8th-century high crosses stand in the churchyard.^[13]

Lorrha Abbey

The Augustinian Abbey founded in the 12th century by the Order of Canons Regular stands nearby. The carved head over the door is thought to represent the wife of Walter De Burgh.^[14] Water for the monastic settlement was supplied from St. Ruadhan's well located south of the road that passes the present Church of Ireland cemetery.

Lorrha Castle

At the north side, and within a few paces of the abbey, is a ruinous old building, so much overgrown with ivy, that there is scarcely any part of the walls perceptible. from its similarity to most other military buildings, I am led to think that it is the ruins of a castle, notwithstanding the general opinion that it was an appendage to the abbey.^[15]

The Lorrha Missal, a translation of the Latin and Gaelic Missal was transcribed at Lorrha in the 9th century. It is now commonly known as the Stowe Missal.

Annalstic references

See Annals of Inisfallen

• AI707.2 Colmán, abbot of Lothra, rested.
• AI747a.1 Kl. Repose of Dúngal, abbot of Lothra. The slaying of Aed Dub.
• AI780.1 Kl. Repose of Ailill, abbot of Lothra.
• AI809.1 Kl. Coibdenach the learned, abbot of Lothra, [rested].
• AI1015.10 The vacating of Imlech Ibuir, and the invasion of Lothra.