Aghowle Lower - Cross | Aghowle Lower - Bullaun Stone |
On the approach to this church, along the farm track, the commanding position it holds is very striking.
Some of the walls you see here are modern additions but the massive square door at the west end is truly wonderful. Around one of its recessed borders it is gently decorated with little half balls.
In the body of the ruins there is a holed stone, but the once reported 1m tall phallic stone is no more.
In the east end are two fabulous windows each flanked with fine columns.
I had come here today to find the bullaun stone to the southeast and I couldn't resist another look around the church. The east windows and the door really are special. Sitting in the car waiting for the rain to stop or at least ease off I was able to get a good look at the east windows. The light was just right to make the remaining details on the left hand window frame to show up.
From Shillelagh follow the R725 NW for 4.5km where you will come to a staggered crossroads. Turn left and follow the road until you reach a t-junction. From here you will find th church signposted.
This is an explanation of (and a bit of a disclaimer for) the coordinates I provide. Where a GPS figure is given this is the master for all other coordinates. According to my Garmin these are quite accurate. Where there is no GPS figure the 6 figure grid reference is master for the others. This may not be very accurate as it could have come from the OS maps and could have been read by eye. Consequently, all other cordinates are going to have inaccuracies. The calculation of Longitude and Latitude uses an algorithm that is not 100% accurate. The long/lat figures are used as a basis for calculating the UTM & ITM coordinates. Consequently, UTM & ITM coordinates are slightly out. UTM is a global coordinate system - Universal Transverse Mercator - that is at the core of the GPS system. ITM is the new coordinate system - Irish Transverse Mercator - that is more accurate and more GPS friendly than the Irish Grid Reference system. This will be used on the next generation of Irish OS maps. |