Rathmore Church
| Rathmore Church Irish: Cill an Rátha Mhóir | |
|
Rathmore, Meath | |
|---|---|
| Status: | closed |
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | N74606650 |
| Location: | 53°38’35"N, 6°52’20"W |
| History | |
| Built 1470s | |
| Information | |
Rathmore Church is a ruined medieval church in Meath.[1][2] It was constructed by the prominent Plunkett living nearby at Rathmore Castle. A modern church 500 yards to the north-east serving the area was constructed in 1844.[3] Archer and Smith describe it as similar in purpose to other churches constructed at Killeen and Dunsany.[4]
Rathmore Church is located two and a half miles north-east of Athboy, to the west of Jamestown Bog.[5]
History
Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket was a lawyer and judge of the mid-15th century, serving as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1461 and 1463. He was married to Marion Cruise (Mary Anne Cruys) and died in 1471; the couple are buried together at Rathmore, Marion's hereditary family seat.[6]
Lieutenant-General Thomas Bligh (d. 1775) of the 20th Regiment of Foot has a monumental tablet in the church. He fought at Dettingen, Val, Fontneay, and Melle. He was also commander of the British troops at Cherbourg.[7][8]
The font was stolen in April 2013 but recovered in May of that year.[9]
Church
Rathmore Church is a nave and chancel church with a three-storey sacristy and a tall bell tower. Features include a piscina, sedilia, carved heads and labyrinth stone. The effigy of Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket is in good condition; he wears armour and a dog sleeps at his feet. Marion's is badly damaged.[9][10]
References
- ↑ "Tom Cruise's Irish Ancestry - Overview - Eneclann". http://www.eneclann.ie/exhibitions/tomcruise/historically-who-were-the-cruise-family/.
- ↑ Hiberionacum, Vox (15 May 2013). "On the Theft of a Decorated Medieval Font from Rathmore Church, Co. Meath". https://voxhiberionacum.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/rathmore-font/.
- ↑ Christine Casey; Alistair John Rowan (1993). North Leinster: The Counties of Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath. Penguin. pp. 457–8. ISBN 978-0-14-071085-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=NJ1j2FhGpAEC&pg=PA457.
- ↑ Archer, Lucy; Smith, Edwin (1999). Architecture in Britain and Ireland : 600-1500 (1. publ. ed.). London: Harvill Press. p. 410. ISBN 9781860467011.
- ↑ "Rathmore Church « The Irish Aesthete". https://theirishaesthete.com/tag/rathmore-church/.
- ↑ "Ireland In Ruins: Old Rathmore Church Co Meath". 8 March 2013. http://irelandinruins.blogspot.ie/2013/03/old-rathmore-church-co-meath.html.
- ↑ p. 120
- ↑ "Rathmore (Meath) - Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)". https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/R/Rathmore-Lune-Meath.php.
- ↑ Jump up to: 9.0 9.1 Rathmore Church, Meath
- ↑ Past, Ed Hannon-Visions of the (20 February 2016). "Rathmore Church, Meath, Ireland". https://visionsofthepastblog.com/2016/02/20/rathmore-church-co-meath/.