Carron Church

While driving in the Irish countryside from the Cliffs of Moher to our next destination, this building caught my attention as we passed by. So of course we stopped to investigate.

The strange building was actually the remains of Carron Church, the largest parish in County Clare until the mid 16th century. The parish was founded in the 12th century although the building that is standing today was contructed in the early 15th century. The cemetary that surrounds the church is still in use as we found out later in the day when a local gentleman informed us that his grandfather was buried here. Although the roof has long since disappeared, the walls are a great example of the dry stone masonry used in the area. Buildings like this one can be seen throughout southwest Ireland.

The gate leading to the church had a nice little warning. We checked our weapons and then hopped the fence.

While crossing the field to get to the church, a cow pie was mistaken for solid ground as you can see from the imprint of my left Nike Free.

Nature is slowing reclaiming the church.

Mindy was of course a little cold in the wind, but found relief inside the church where we discovered even more graves.

On our way back down the hill to the road leading past the church, Mindy shows off her athletic prowess at descending a hill while avoiding cow pies.

One day this church will collapse and nature will retake what was taken from it.