Temple Cronan (Templecronan, Teampall Chrónáin) is a beautiful old Church believed to originally date from the 12th Century.
It is located in Termon, County Clare in the Burren area.
There were alterations in the 15th Century to the Church as evidenced by the Gothic style doorway in the North wall.
It is believed the Church was founded by a Saint Cronan although which Saint Cronan is unclear.
Cronan of Roscrea in Tipperary is mentioned often in association with the Church at Termon.
The Church is described as an oratory which includes both Hiberno-Romanesque features and later medieval elements. It has proven difficult to date accurately however it most likely replaced an early wooden Church on the site.
It has many interesting features including carved human heads and animal figures alongside a trabeate (horizontal lintel) style doorway and a beautiful window with Romanesque "button" detailing.
There are two wonderful examples of early Gable Shrines at Temple Cronan. One is sometimes referred to as Saint Cronan's Bed.
These rare Shrines would possibly have contained the remains of early Christian era venerables or important Holy men or women.
They are believed to predate the Church by several centuries and are perhaps of a 7th Century date. This would make them at least 1,300 years old.
The Church itself is constructed in a "Cyclopean" masonry style which just means large irregular blocks of stone were used in its construction.
There are the remains of some unusual stone enclosures on the approach into Temple Cronan and these too have proven difficult to date. It is impossible to know if these rudimentary enclosures are prehistoric or of a later time period.
Inside the Church is a long rectangular slab which seems to contain a shallow Bullaun although no Bullaun Stone is recorded here.
There are the remains of a High Cross, a Holy Well and a Penitential Station near the Church although I didn't get time to see these on my quick visit.
All in all I was lucky to get to pay a visit as I passed Temple Cronan almost by accident on my travels elsewhere.
With its Burren backdrop and rural location I'll definitely be back for a proper visit sometime again. It seemed to be an almost magical place.
