Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Offaly

 

 Saint Carthage at Rahan 

(Copy of a Post)

 

Rahan in Offaly is located between the Clodiagh river and the Grand Canal in an idylic setting. Nice, quiet and peaceful with some beautiful antiquities and interesting history what's not to like?
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
There are two wonderful Churches located at Rahan, both with Romanesque features. A further ruin of which little remains has been described as a possible third Church however it's more likely the remains of a Tower House judging by the thickness of its walls.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
There is an OPW information board outside the Church and unfortunately it is confusing to interpret. It took me a while to figure this out and it's not the first time I've been confused by an incorrect or misleading OPW informantion panel.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
It's believed that a Monastery was established here in the 5th Century by someone known as Camelacus however very little seems to be known about this figure from history.
 
Saint Carthach aka Carthage/Mochuta re-established a monastic community on the site  sometime in the 6th Century.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

Carthach was originally from the North Kerry area and eventually left Rahan and founded another Monastery at Lismore in Waterford.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

It would appear from the records that Carthach was quite austere and a hard taskmaster. Life at Rahan was reputedly tough and eventually Carthach and his followers were forced to leave Rahan for good by the King of Meath and his soldiers.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
He journeyed to Lismore and founded another Monastery here and is believed to have died circa 637 A.D.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

The main Church at Rahan is believed to have been constructed around 1150 and is incorporated into a later Church which was built in 1732. The partial remains of the trancepts of an unusual cruciform Romanesque Church are still preserved as are a beautiful Romanesque doorway and Rose window.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

I have never had the opportunity to enter the Church but I believe there is a surviving Chancel arch of three orders, a Sheela na Gig and several other interesting early relics inside should you be lucky enough to find it open.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

Surrounding the Monastic enclosure is a clearly visible embankment which was probably the original boundary of the settlement.

Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
Not far from the main Church and lying nearby in open green pasture is a further Church which is believed to date from the 15 or 16th Century. 
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
This Church too has also incorporated earlier Romanesque elements including its beautiful Romanesque doorway and it has both simple windows and later ornately carved ogee windows. There are animal carvings and a human head which are hard to spot unless you look closely.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

The final ancient construction lies in a corner of the adjacent graveyard and has been referred to both as a Church and as a Castle/Tower House depending upon which source you look up.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

Judging by the depth and thickness of the surviving walls it appears as if it were more likely a Tower House which has long since been destroyed over the intervening centuries and wasn't recorded. That's just a guess on my part.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

Hopefully Covid 19 movement restrictions will soon be lifted and you can go and enjoy a few hours wandering around beautiful Rahan.
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

Keep the wheels turning.......
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.
 
P.S. Not far from Rahan at Killina is a tiny Memorial Garden which has among other things a Penal Law Mass Rock, Saint Anthony's Holy Well and a lovely Bullaun Stone. It's worth visiting if in the area and I'll do a post on it at some other time.

Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.


 

 
Co-ordinates Here : 

53°16'44.3"N 7°36'48.8"W

53.278960-7.613544

 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church
 
Saint Carthage Romanesque Church, Rahan.

Saint Carthage Romanesque Church