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Temple Cronan, Co Clare

Temple Cronan (M288000) is dedicated to St Cronan of Roscrea or Tuamgraney. This small rectangular church possibly dates from the 12th century.

View From The North West

The original entrance in the west wall was a simple lintelled doorway with inclined jambs. It is now blocked. A new pointed doorway was inserted in the north wall in the 15th century. There is a simple round-headed east window. The inner embrasure is lintelled and has inclined jambs. The church has a high pitched roof with corbel stones at the corners.

One Of The Carved Masks

Low on the west wall is a very fine mask with a much-weathered mask high up on the gable. There is another mask at roof level in the south wall and a fourth mask above the north doorway. On the inside of the north wall there are two projecting stones. One of these has a very simple mask, possibly animal, and the other seems to be a weathered human mask set upside down.

The Saint's Tomb?

The church sits within a small irregular enclosure. Close to the southeast corner is a tomb made from two large slabs leaning together and two triangular end panels. A short distance to the northeast, just outside the enclosure, is a similar, though smaller, tomb.