Raheen-a-Cluig

Raheen-a-Cluig
Raheenac[h]luig Church
Ráithín an Chloig
Raheen-a-Cluig with Bray promenade in background. Photo c. 1875
Raheen-a-Cluig
53°11′38″N 6°05′26″W / 53.193786°N 6.090484°W / 53.193786; -6.090484Coordinates: 53°11′38″N 6°05′26″W / 53.193786°N 6.090484°W / 53.193786; -6.090484
Location	Newcourt, Bray, County Wicklow
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Pre-Reformation Catholic
History
Founded	13th century
Dedication	St Michael or St Brendan
Architecture
Style	Norman
Years built	13th century
Specifications
Length	12 m (39 ft)
Width	6 m (20 ft)
Height	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Materials	stone
Administration
Diocese	Dublin
Designations National Monument of Ireland

Raheen-a-Cluig is a medieval church and National Monument in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.^[1]

Location

Raheen-a-Cluig lies on the north face of Bray Head, about 300 m (330 yd) south of the beach, with a commanding view over the coastline.

History

Raheen-a-Cluig is believed to have been built in the 13th century AD. The name derives from the Irish Ráithín an Chloig, "little fort of the bell." It was given to the Augustines by the then prominent Archbold family. It may have been dedicated to St Michael or St Brendan.^[2][3]

It was partially restored in the 18th century. Over the years it has also been used as a hideout by smugglers, and it associated with various ghost stories.

Church

The ruins have a doorway in the northeast wall which would have originally held a strong timber door, and round-headed windows in the east and west gables.

There were two smaller buildings close by and so is an enclosure: probably a cillín: a burial ground for suicides, shipwrecked sailors, strangers, unrepentant murderers and unbaptised babies.

About a 400 m (¼ mile) southeast of the church there was a holy well, known as Patrick’s Well. This was still used in the 1830s, mostly by invalids.^[4]

References