2025:623 - Kiltullagh Church, Roscommon

Conservation works took place at Kiltullagh Church (RMP No. RO032-002001), Kiltullagh, Co. Roscommon, in October 2025, under Ministerial Consent No. C001466. The works were funded by the Community Monuments Fund and were monitored by the writer.

Kiltullagh Church is located 5km south-west of Ballinlough. It is located within a graveyard (RMP No. RO032-002002) which contains a building (RMP No. RO032-002003), while the site is surrounded  by a field system (RMP No. RO032-002004). Two cursing stones (RMP Nos. RO032-002005 and RO032-002006) were recorded here in 1837 by John O’Donovan but are no longer in situ,

The church is orientated east north-east/west south-west and measures 16.5m long and 6.5m wide internally.  Only the east gable and south wall stand to their full height. The church is entered via a pointed doorway, located towards the west end of the south wall. The south wall also contains a narrow light towards its east end, while a narrow round-headed window is located off-centre in the east gable. An aumbry is located to the north of the window on the internal elevation.

The 2025 conservation works consisted of the installation of temporary gabion buttresses at the base of the east gable wall, due to the risk of the total collapse of the gable. Two gabions were placed at either end of the external elevation with three gabions placed at the northern end of the internal elevation. The location of the gabions was agreed to minimise any potential impact on marked graves and on features on the internal face of the gable. At each location a sheet of terram was laid to cover the ground surface, on top of which was spread a layer of hardcore to act as a level base for the gabions. No levels were reduced as part of the conservation works.