St. Dairbhile's Church is a medieval church and National Monument in County Mayo, Ireland.[1][2]
| St. Dairbhile's Church | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teampall Deirbhile | |||||||||
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  St. Dairbhile's Church | |||||||||
| 54°05′46″N 10°06′25″W / 54.096168°N 10.106915°W | |||||||||
| Location | Fallmore, Aughleam, County Mayo | ||||||||
| Country | Ireland | ||||||||
| Denomination | Celtic Christianity | ||||||||
| Architecture | |||||||||
| Functional status | inactive | ||||||||
| Years built | 12th century | ||||||||
| Specifications | |||||||||
| Length | 12.19 m (40.0 ft) | ||||||||
| Width | 4.87 m (16.0 ft) | ||||||||
| Number of floors | 1 | ||||||||
| Materials | granite, ashlar | ||||||||
| Administration | |||||||||
| Diocese | Killala | ||||||||
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Location
St. Dairbhile's Church is located 2.4 km (1½ miles) south of Aughleam in the townland of Fallmore, on the Mullet Peninsula.[3]
History
St. Dairbhile's Church was constructed in the 6th century, although the current structure is from the 12th century.[citation needed]
According to legend, if someone can squeeze themselves through the west window three times, they will never die from drowning.[citation needed]
Legend tells us that in the 6th century St. Dairbhile (Darbiled), a native of Meath, travelled to the Mullet Peninsula to escape an admirer. However, she was followed here, and gouged out her own eyes to make herself less attractive. When her horrified lover left, she washed her eyes in the waters of a well and her sight was restored. This is St. Deirbhile's Well, which is located nearby. A pattern takes place annually on 15 August.[4][5][6]
Buildings
St. Dairbhile's Church is a gabled single-cell church, now in ruins. The church has a narrow ashlar-lined, deeply-splayed east window with an arcuated lintel, and a narrow west doorway with inclined jambs and arcuated lintel.[7]