Glann
Church
Church
of Ireland - St. Matthews
About
Clontuskert:
 A map showing the Aughrim &
Creagh Union
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Located five miles
from Eyrecourt on the Ballinasloe Road, Clontuskert
parish has it's roots in a 9th century settlement founded
by St. Baetan sometimes known as Baodan. The monastic
tradition was continued when in the12th century a priory
of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine was established
there. Turlough O'Connor. King of Connacht Founded the
establishment while its principal patron was the O'Kelly
family. A centre of great wealth and influence the
foundation was destroyed by fire in 1413 but it was
rebuilt and curiously survived the 16th Dissolution, and
probably remained in operation until the Cromwellian
Wars. In the interesting years the Canons were under the
protection of the Earls of Clanrickard.
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Of the remains of the Priory the
West Door is of most interest. Inscribed in Latin over the door
are words when translated "Matthew by the grace of God.
Bishop of Clonfert and Patrick O' Naughton. Canon of this house
caused me to be built AD 1471." Experts in architecture
suggests links between the masonary of St. Michaels, St. John The
Baptist, St. Catherine of Alexandria nad St. Augustine from part
of th elaborate decoration. Carvings of Angels, animals and
mermaids further enhance the structure.
About
St. Matthews:
Dedicated to St. Matthew
and located in the townland of Glan or Glanahaun,
Clontuskert Parish Church was built in 1818, financed by
a gift of £900 for The Board of First Fruits. A neat
building with a spire of Hewn Stone and surronded by a
graveyard the church internally is rectangular in shape
and can accomadate one hundred people. The nearby Glebe
House was built in 1820 by aid of a gift of £250 and a
loan of £450. In 1862 the patrons of St. Matthew's were
the Marquis of Clanrickard and the Bishop. By 1910 the
parish was in union with Kiltormer and by 1942 it had
become part of the Aughrim Union.
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Glann Church |
Features
of Interest:
Within the church a memorial
tablet remembers Bedela Jones Cooke of Caugh who died in 1917
aged 97 years. The stained glass East Windows was erected in 1908
by means of a bequest from James Barr, a parishioner of St.
Matthews who died in 1907. It depicts a Scriptual Scene. The
wooden Prayer Desk and Pulpit were presented by the Seymour
family while the two Santuary chairs also serve as memorials one
being presened by the Sharpe family and the other being presented
by the Cooke family.
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