Mysterious Monument St. Com퐚́n’s , . By Vincent Delany

History: St. Comá n’s Church, which celebrates it’s 250th anniversary in 2020 is said to be located on the site of the 6th century St. Comá n’s monastery. What do we know of St Com푎́ n’s monastery? In c. 1140 the monastery adopted Augustinian rules. It was later rededicated to St. Mary. Was it a substantial monastery with several single cell buildings? The exact extent or layout of those buildings has not been identified, although some small elements from that campus still exist.

Figure 1. The date of the construction of the present Roscommon church (1770?) is crudely carved on an ancient stone forming the reveal to a window on the west side of the tower, high above street level.

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National Monument Record 1.

Record Number: RO039-043006- Classification: Religious house - Augustinian Canons Scheduled for Protection: 1 Description: Situated on a gentle south-east-facing slope within Roscommon town. The monastery was founded by St Comán, supposedly a disciple of St Finnian of Clonard, in the 6th century. Comán was a son of Faolchú and is reliably connected with the Dál nAraidhe of north-east Ulster. He died in 747 and his feast-day is celebrated on 26th December. The 'Law of St Comán' was proclaimed over much of Connaught in 771, 779 and 792 (Ó’Rian, 2011, 216-7). The monastery may have been raided by the in 807 (AU, 263), but this is unlikely. However, it was burnt in 823 and again in 1134. The known as ‘The Cross of Cong’ was made for this church, possibly at the church, in 1123 as a gift from Turlough O'Conor. The church became the diocesan centre after the Synod of Kells in 1152, but this honour had been moved to Elphin (RO016-127001-) by 1172. The Augustinian Rule was adopted c. 1140, and the church continued in use as an Augustinian house until the Dissolution, although the dedication may have changed to St. Mary's in the 13th century when it might also have had a community of . Coarbs (ed. succession from the founder of a religious institution) continue into the thirteenth century at least. It was plundered by the de Burgos in 1204 and 1260, and was burnt in 1235 and 1247 and 1360 (Gwynne and Hadcock 1970, 191-2, 323). After the monastery was suppressed c. 1540 its land was granted to Sir Nicholas Malby (Hoare 2014), who transformed the Castle (RO039- 043006-) into the fortified house (RO039-043010-) also on the site today. The monastery consisted of at least one stone church and a round tower, which was burnt in 1050 by the men of Breiffne (AFM vol. 2, 859). It is described as a ruined church, hall and cloister in 1578 (Bradley and Dunne 1988a, 97-8). It was centred on the site now occupied by the Church of church of St. Comán, which was built in the 18th century and where some fragments of transitional 12th century masonry (RO039- 043008-) are incorporated into the tower. The head of a 13th century lancet window is kept within the church. The present E gable has a three-light decorated window, much of which is original, while internally its embrasure has a decorated surround with pinnacles, dating from c. 1450. Inside the church there is a wall memorial to the Gunnings of Castlecoote dated 1717 that might have been moved from Fuerty church (RO039-063001-), and to Lovelaces of Ballybride dated 1723. There is also a wall

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memorial (RO039-043017-) dated 1696 to John and Catherine Fleming of Roscommon, although it may have been moved to here. An inscribed slab (dims 0.93m x 0.41-0.65m; T 0.06-0.15m) (RO039-043009-) which dates to the 9th century asks for a blessing on Ioseph and is now in the Roscommon County Museum. A cross-slab (RO039-043016-) (dims 1m x 0.7m; max. T 0.13m) decorated with the stem of a cross and traces of ring also has a panel of interlace and roundels at the edge of the stone (Siggins, 1996; Barton 1996). The latter was moved to a position against the S wall of the present church in 2013. Both were found in the rectangular graveyard (RO039- 043007-) (dims c. 80m E-W; c. 45m N-S) which also contains fragments of the masonry of a large Gothic window, and a cross-slab (RO039-043028-) with a crudely-incised cross and a single-line ring is used as a grave-marker. Human bones were uncovered in Goff St. to the E c. 1917. The of St. Comán's Vat (RO039-047--- -) is c. 600m to the NW.

Compiled by: Michael Moore, Date of revised upload: 17 Dec. 2014.

Potential Original Appearance of St Com퐚́ n’s Monastery Roscommon.

Figure 2. Did St Coman's Monastery look similar to this with more than one church of different dates, surrounded by an enclosing wall or bank, with funeral graves around the churches, and residential buildings around the perimeter of the campus? Evidence as to the exact layout of the Roscommon monastery has not yet been established. From its foundation until it became an Augustinian House, the layout of the buildings would have adhered to the tradition of the facing east, but to no other regulating force. The

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general pattern for monasteries followed the pattern shown in fig. 2 above, but Roscommon may have been smaller with less buildings than is shown above. When Roscommon became an Augustinian house in the 12th century, it was perhaps at that time the cloister described above was built.

The condition of the Monastery in 1581.

Sir Nicholas Malby’s proposal for the town of Roscommon was intended to show how the defensive castle and a new walled town could coexist. The plan appears to show some pre- existing buildings, such as the castle, tower and church which were to be retained as part of the overall town plan. He shows a wall enclosing the churchyard built in close proximity to the walls of the church - such walls were probably a proposal, and did not exist at that time. The text on the drawing reads ‘Church & churchyard’. It would be necessary to see the original of Malby’s plan in the British National Archives (Kew) (ref: MPF 1/95) in order to glean more about the design of the church at that time.

The drawing of the church shows it to be two stories high, with a higher tower. There is a large central door at ground floor level and two Romanesque round headed windows at first floor level. The tower appears to be an open structure with a large aperture, in which is suspended a large bell. This pattern is commonly seen in early Irish Romanesque church buildings of mortared Figure 3. Sir Nicholas Malby's proposal for the retention of the old church outside the walls of his new town of Roscommon. stone such as St Begnet’s Church, Island, but in Roscommon the bell structure is of a larger scale. The roof finish is unclear, so it may be concealed behind the parapets. It is unclear if grave-marking memorial stones are indicated in the churchyard between the church and surrounding wall.

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The Dissolution of Monasteries.

In 1533, when Henry 8th tried to marry Anne Boleyn, the Roman forbade him from doing so, because he was already married. Henry VIII found no way to get around this, other than removing the right of the church to prevent him. So, he declared that the Pope was no longer head of the Church in , and made himself head instead. This meant that it was he, not the Pope, that had the final word on church matters in England and Ireland. In 1536, the Church in Ireland was ordered to recognise Henry VIII as head of the Church. Henry VIII proceeded to dissolve all Irish monasteries – some of which had existed for over eleven centuries. He then sold the monastic lands and scattering the Monks. In the case of Roscommon, the church buildings and lands were sold to Sir Nicholas Malby. The Monks had nursed the sick and cared for the poor in the local communities, and this service was ended.

The status of the Monastery / Roscommon Parish Church of the Established Church in 1736.

Francis Plunkett drew his map in 1736, based on his own survey of the town of Roscommon. The object of the map was to show the various tenancies held by the owners of the town, who at that time were the three living daughters of the Earl of Ranelagh:

1)Lady Catherine Jones (d. 1740) 2) Lady Frances Coningesby (1707-1781), and 3) Margaret Countess Coningesby, (1709-1761). None of them had ever visited the town, but they had local agents to attend to their estates. The map shows the pressure which had been put on the churchyard by the various sub- landlords with holdings on My Ladies Lane (later Goff Street) and Church Street. Excavations of the houses and gardens on the west side of Goff Street in 1917, revealed bones, indicating that the churchyard was more extensive prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th. cent.

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Churchyard

Church . My Ladies Lane (now Goff Street).

Church Street

Figure 4. Francis Plunkett’s map of Roscommon Church and churchyard (32) 1736. The rectangular church building is quite modest, with a door on the north side and two large vertical windows and one smaller window beside the door. Once again, the west gable appears to be extended upwards to form a belfry. Although the church is taller, is not much larger than the modest cottages on My Ladies Lane (now Goff Street). Access to the church from Church St was highly restricted, with parishioners having to cross site No. 22 (Richard Birmingham’s plott) in order to reach the church building from Church Street. The traditional church orientation with the altar at the east end has been adhered to.

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There is evidence to show that the present church building was erected in 1770 (see fig 1). Was the entire earlier church demolished? Probably, most of the original church was demolished, as the current church is a building of far greater stature. However, certain features of this 18th century building have been purloined from earlier buildings. At this stage we do not know if all the reused elements came from the same building or from different buildings. The trefoiled 14th cent. east window (fig. 5) appears to have come from a building nearly as substantial as the existing building. The design shows similarities to H.G. Leask’s conjectural restoration of the four light west window of Figure 5. Drawing of the 14th. cent. East Window. Roscommon’s Dominican friary church (fig 6), except Roscommon Church has only thee lights.

The blocked- up limestone doorway (fig. 7) on the south side of the existing church tower comes from a 14th cent. church. It consists of engaged circular column on each side, surmounted with arch springings which are undecorated and which are not original stones of this doorway. A two centred arch, which is not Figure 6. Leask's conjectural elevation of the west window semi-circular might of Roscommon Friary showing have originally been the similarity with Roscommon Monastery. located in a wider doorway. The keystone looks out of place and is more characteristic of classical buildings and may not belong here at all. Figure 7. 14th cent. doorway in The south door surround which currently serves as tower of existing 18th cent. church. the main entrance to the church, is 12th cent. in style. It

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may originally have been located on the west wall of a monastic chapel. This door is surmounted by an equilateral lancet and matching moulded shafts below, standing on limestone plinths with chamfered tops and arrises. Under the lancet is a limestone trefoil which has been beautifully glazed in 18th cent. drawn glass with elegant sinuous astragals probably of timber and painted white. The timber church door is an 18th. cent. intervention which is vertically sheeted. The entire is protected by a limestone lancet hood moulding sitting on stops. (Figure 8).

Figure 8. The 12th century door at the base of the tower.

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Figure 10. Possible original location for the limestone trefoils in use as a window head in the tower. Built into the tower are various other carefully carved stones which clearly

derive from earlier structures (Nat.Mon. RO039-043008). The Figure 9. Historic louvred window on the west side of west window of the tower (Fig. 9) the tower. consists of a number of ill-matched historic elements. The trefoil-pointed lancets were once part of the tracery of a much larger window, sedilia, cloister arcade or a tomb niche as shown in the uncoloured parts of fig. 10. In their original location, these stones were part of a larger architectural element the other parts of which is now lost.

Likewise, the decorated stone built into the wall over the window in Fig 9 with back-and-forth diagonal roll mouldings cut to a large radius, was probably part of a door surround moulding or alternatively (and more likely due to the very large radius) part of a chancel arch. This form of back-and-forth roll moulding is widely found in the west of Ireland, in monasteries Figure 11. Similar roll such as Drumcoo (Fig. 11) and Corcomroe Co. Clare. mouldings to south door at Drumcoo, Co. Galway.

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The existing floor plan of the church, prepared to a true scale shows that the church tower has not been built on the centre line. (Fig 12). There could be several explanations for this:

Figure 12. Survey plan of St. Coman’s Church showing features which are referred to in the text. 1) The north wall of the tower may be part of the earlier church surveyed by Francis Plunkett in 1736 (fig .4). The wall and door could have been retained with the original door in situ and incorporated into the 18th century church.

2) There might have been an important burial located immediately to the south of the tower, for which approval was not obtained to excavate and rei-inter it.

3) It might have been a constructional dimension error.

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Churchyard

My Lady’s Lane Church Goff Street

Church Street

Figure 13. Ordnance Survey of 1891, showing the churchyard area. It shows the 18th cent. church building on a churchyard of the same shape and proportions as in 1736. The issue of access to the church from church Street has been addressed and resolved. 19th Century Improvements made to the Church (From Irish Builder 1888):

‘The county town of Roscommon, as regards its parish church, was a typical example of the condition of things which existed in Ireland, whilst the maintenance of the fabrics of the churches was in the hands of a department of the State. The number of church members in a parish being known, sitting accommodation had to be provided for them at the rate of 21 inches per head, and if this could not be obtained on the floor of the building, galleries were erected- even a second tier in some cases- so that the churches were sometimes more like theatres than places intended for worship. But even worship was for a long time a secondary consideration- those in authority would, doubtless, would have been virtuously indignant if told so- nevertheless, it was patent to the modern observer that the chief object in view was to

11 provide a huge amount of sitting accommodation in full view of the preacher as possible, when he ascends to the third storey of the orthodox ‘three decker.’

Roscommon Church was, up to some forty years ago, (i.e 1848) like most Irish country churches- an oblong building, measuring 70 ft. long by 24 ft wide, and blind on one side, with four windows in the carpenter’s Gothic style on the south side, and the

Figure 14. Interior view of the 1888 pulpit and transept. very uncommon feature of a late fourteenth century cut stone window on the east end, of good design, which has been taken from a previous church, but was half obstructed by the insertions of wooden sashes. There was also a tower at the west end, in which a fine entrance doorway, of the same period, has been re-erected, and some portions of similar windows, and the greater part of a twelfth- century doorway erected on the opposite side to the other one, in a recess left for that purpose.- all due, doubtless, to the possession of antiquarian tastes by the then rector, or some other local magnate. Almost half of the church was occupied with galleries at the west end and along the north side, mostly divided, as was the floor below, into large square pews, with seats all round. This account of accommodation having become insufficient, a transept, somewhat wider than the nave, and 24 ft. in length, was built within 3 ft of the east end of the nave. It was fitted up in much the same way as the older part of the church, but without galleries, and the two large pews at the south end had each a fireplace in it, so that the occupants could in cold weather seat themselves comfortably round the fires.

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Since the Rev. Martin Bradshaw, M.A. has been appointed rector of the parish, he has been instrumental in setting a movement on foot for the improvement of this most unsightly church. A considerable sum of money having been collected, plans were prepared by Mr. Richard Langrishe, district Architect to the representative Church Body, and these having been approved of by the bishop of the diocese, and the late Right Hon. Figure 15. Three new windows on the north facade of the church. A.J. Beresford-Hope, Trustee of Lord Bereford’s Fund, a grant in aid was made by the latter, with a conditional further grant in the event of certain further sum being raised by the parishioners, which having been accomplished, the work of improvement was commenced and pushed rapidly on. This consisted of removing the galleries and all other fittings, inserting three windows of two lights each , with tracery heads, on the north side; replacing the square pews with open benches of Figure 16. Nave of 18th cent. church looking west, with balconies removed pitch pine with and new windows on the right. moulded ends;

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Figure 17. To the glory of God and the memory of Revd. Martin Bradshaw M.A. faithful incumbant of Roscommon Parish for seven years 1885-1892 of whos pious zeal this church owing its renovation mainly to his devoted energy preserves and enduring record. Erected by parishioners and friends. delicately moulded columns of walnut, with sedilia and kneeler to correspond. providing a prayer desk of the same material, with a panelled and arcaded front, resting on

The desk is placed facing the transept, with organ behind it on the north side; also erecting a sanctuary rail on handsome standards of iron and work, place parallel to the walls, instead of the old semicircular arrangement, forming a tiled baptistery near the western entrance on the south side, with the font placed on it, it having formerly stood in the central passage near the

14 rails. The walls have been coloured in a warm grey tint, with a flowing stencil pattern in white on a dull red ground immediately over the wooden dado which formed the back of the old seats, which has been grained in pitch pine and varnished. The building is heated by means of two of Porritt’s underground stoves, for which the flues of the old fireplaces have been itilised. The whole of these works have been carried out by Messrs. Thomas Tighe and sons, Ranelagh Road, to the complete satisfaction of the parishioners and the architect.

The pulpit – presented by the Hon. Mrs. Dillon, of Clonbrock, in memory of her parents, the late Baron Crofton, of Mote Park, Roscommon and Georgina his wife- was designed to harmonise with the style of the east window, near to which it stands, between the sanctuary and transept; it is of Caen stone, with columns of red and green Irish marbles, placed alternately. Eight of these columns clustering around a central one of Caen stone, and resting on a plinth of the same material, the capitals carved with vine leaves and grape clusters, Figure 18. the pulpit in memory of Lord Crofton. form the shaft. Over these a corbelling out with a series of graceful mouldings, crowned with an abacus, carries the body of the pulpit, which forms six sides of an octagon, at each angle of which, over a plinth and moulded base stands a small marble shaft, having it capital ornamented with oak leaves carved in relief resting on each pair of these columns is a five lobed arch, deeply recessed, and round the top runs a moulded cornice, the cavetto of which is enriched with a wreath of ivy leaves, in conventional style. Over the cornice are placed handsome brass gas-standards, and a sliding

15 desk, the latter having a silk fall affixed in front, which was worked by the donor; there is also a brass handrail to the stair. The stonework and the carving are the work of Mr. C.W. Harrison of 178 Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, and do him great credit.

A handsome brass eagle lectern presented by the daughter of a former parishioner as a memorial to him, was , together with the pulpit desk and rail standards supplied by Messrs. Jones and Willis, Birmingham. The lighting at night is provided for by ten gas standards of polished brass of nine lights each.

The church was reopened by the bishop of the diocese (Dr. Stone) who preached a most appropriate sermon to a large and attentive congregation. A large number of young people of both sexes from the surrounding parish also receive the rite of Confirmation at his hands, which added greatly to the impressiveness of the scene, which will be long remembered in Roscommon.’

Irish Builder, 30, 1 Feb 1888, p. 30.

One item not mentioned in the above report is the Vestry Room on the north side of the church which was erected soon after 1799 by Denis Corry, builder. Figure 19. The Handsome brass Eagle Lectern

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Memorials

The interior of the church features memorials to the deceased inhabitants of the town and surrounding areas which we have recorded in chronological order. Several of the memorials predate the church, indicating that they may have been on the walls of the previous church, or relocated from elsewhere.

‘This monument was Erected by Mr John Flem- ing of Roscommon in me- mory of his wife Mrs Cath- Anne Fleming alias Con- way who departed this life ye 22 day of 8 and in ye 32 year of her age and lyeth interd before it. Here also lyeth ye body of John Fleming who departd this life March ye 10th 1696 & in ye 37th yr of his age Erectd by Figure 20. John Fleming Memorial. John Kelly of Dublin & Roger Kelly of Roscommon.

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Figure 21. Mrs Elizabeth Sandys Memorial Neat this place lyeth the body of the Hon.ble Mrs Elizabeth Sandys Daughter of Roger Jones Viscount Ranelagh Who was married to Colonel Sandys Third son of Sir Ed. Sandys of Northern Kent Famous for his travels & eldest son Edwin Sandys, Lord Bishop of York He had two sons and nine daughters, survived them all And departed this life in April 1704 in ye 76th. Year of age And was interred by her son Robert’s widow. Mrs Mary Sandys alias Reynolds who of true affection to her Erected this monument. Which has been repaired & adorned by Nehemiah Sandys Of Sandfield Esq. W……also interred Edwin Sandys Reynolds of Durham Esq And Jane his wife with several of their children.

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Figure 22. Elizabeth Lovelace memorial.

Beneath this Arch Resteth the body of Mrs Elizabeth Lovelace in her life Exemplary For Extraordinary Piety & all Christian vir- tues. Born in the year 1648. By her first Hus- band Paul Lovelace she had many childn by her second she had no issue. two sons onely survive to lament the loss of so Dear a parent. She Exchangd this life for A Better on Sonday 3d Feb 1723 Her eldest son Arthur Lovelace of Ball- ybride with true Love & duty dedic- ateth this little monumt to her memory.

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Figure 23. Henry Blakeney Memorial I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me unite from henceforth Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: Even so saith The spirit they rest from their labours: Rev. 14th. Cap 13th verse. This stone is sacred to the memory of Henry son of the Rev. Thomas And Alicia Blakeney of Holywell whose piety and strength of mind far Exceeded his years his pure soul ascended to his heavenly Father Dwell with him in everlasting happiness through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. OBIIT 20 Martis 1820. Aetis suoe 6 ½ Anno. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Job. 1st. Cap. 21st. verse. Look down blest shade and from the realms above Accept this last sad tribute of our love This last Een now our sorrows we resign And lose our feelings to rejoice in Thine.

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Figure 24. T. Gordon Caulfield Peyton memorial In Memoriam T. Gordon Caulfield Peyton 2nd son of Reynolds Peyton M.D. Surgeon County Infirmary Who was lost in the ship Penang With all on board In a storm of Cape Horn About the 7th June 1873 Aged 21 years ‘Then are they glad, Because they are at rest And so He bringeth them Unto the haven Where they would be. Psalm CVII 30.

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Figure 25. Caroline Belinda Blakeney memorial. In loving memory Of Caroline Belinda Wife of Edward T. Blakeney And 3rd daughter of the late Andrew Irwin Of Ballymore, Boyle Who entered into rest 24 November 1900. ‘Then shall the dust return To the earth as it was, and The spirit shall return to God Who gave it. Ecclesiastes VII 7.

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References: Leask, Harold G. Irish churches and monastic buildings (1977, Dublin) vols 1-3. Malby, Sir Nicholas, Roscommon, A draught of the town and castle of Roscommon (1581)(British National Archives, Kew). Myplan.ie Plunkett, Francis, Map of estates owned by the heirs of Richard Earl of Ranelagh (1736), (copy in Roscommon County Library.

Various authors, Roscommon parish vestry book, 1773-1812 (Roscommon), RBS Library,

Rathgar

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