Loughinisland churches, off Drumgooland Road, Tievendarragh, near Loughinisland, Downpatrick, Co Down

Ruins of three small rectangular, rubble-constructed, gabled churches, built at various dates between the 13th and 17th centuries, now in state care (SM Dow 37:4). The ruins are picturesquely set on a small island, (to the E side of Loughinisland Lake), approached by a (relatively recent) causeway. The buildings are surrounded by a graveyard. The largest church (c.20m x 8.5) is to the N and dates from c.1450. That to the S of this, the ‘Middle church’ is considerably smaller (c.11.5 x 6.5), and dates from the 1200s, whilst that to the S of this is smaller again (c.7.5 x5.5) and dates from c.1636. Much of the N and S walls and the gables of the N church are still standing. To the W gable there is a doorway opening, with a smaller doorway to the S. There are small window openings to N and S and a larger window opening to the E gable and a small lancet opening above the doorway to the W gable. The ‘middle church’ has lost much of its E and W gables. It has a doorway to the S, with small window openings to N and S, with what may have been a larger opening to the E. The S church has a semicircular arched doorway with moulded jambs and spandrel panels. In the panel to the left are the initials P.M.C., (Phelim MacCartan- the local Lord responsible for the building of the church). To right panel has the date 1636 thereon, but this is now difficult to discern. To the E gable is small window with double pointed arch lights (which have lost their mullion), with smaller (single light) windows to N and S. The churches are surrounded by a graveyard, of which the earliest discernible head stone the writers could find dating from 1758.