Killursa
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Killursa
| fullname =
| other name =
| native_name = Cill Fhursa
| native_name_lang = ga
| image = Killursa Church.JPG
| caption =
| pushpin map = Ireland
| relief = yes
| map caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|53.467762|-9.144907|display=inline,title}}
| osgraw =
| osgridref =
| location = Ower, Headford, County Galway
| country = Ireland
| denomination = Catholic (pre-Reformation)
| former name = Kildaree Church{{cite web |url=https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-galway.pdf |title=National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship: Galway |date=4 March 2009 |website=National Monuments Service |archive-date=14 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114053649/https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-galway.pdf |url-status=live | access-date=9 June 2020 }}{{cite book |last1=de Valera |first1=Ruaidhri |last2=O Nuallain |first2=Sean |title=Survey of the megalithic tombs of Ireland: Vol III |date=1972 |publisher=Stationery Office |location=Dublin |page=xv |url=https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/smi-vol-3-text.pdf |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923063250/https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/smi-vol-3-text.pdf |url-status=live }}
| dedication = Saint Fursey
| status =
| functional status = ruined
| style = Anglo-Norman
| years built = 12th century AD
| length = {{Convert|22.5|m|abbr=on}}
| width = {{Convert|7|m|abbr=on}}
| floor area = {{Convert|160|m2|abbr=on}}
| diocese = Tuam
| embedded = {{Infobox designation list
| embed =yes
| designation2 = National monument of Ireland
| designation2_offname = Killursa
| designation2_number = 231
}}
}}
Killursa is a medieval ruined church located in County Galway, Ireland. The name comes from the Irish ‘Cill Fhursa’, meaning “the church of Fursa”. St. Fursa was a 7th century saint who is thought to have established a monastery on this site. The church building dates to the 12th century and was designed in the Romanesque style. It is surrounded by a large burial ground containing a combination of older and more modern graves. It is still in use today. The site is a protected national monument.
Description
The roofless, ruined church and large burial ground are located approximately {{Convert|1.5|miles|abbr=on}} west of Headford, north of Galway city, in Ireland. The building is rectangular in layout, measuring {{Convert|22.5|m|abbr=on}} in length and {{Convert|7|m|abbr=on}} in width. Designed in the Romanesque style, it contains some interesting architectural details including a mullioned Late Gothic window and trabeate doorway.{{cite web |title=Killursa Church / Cill Fhursa |url=http://www.megalithicireland.com/Killursa%20Church,%20Galway.html |website=Megalithic Ireland |access-date=31 May 2021}} There is a stone altar on the east end.{{cite web |title=Killursa Church |url=https://www.visitgalway.ie/explore/religious-and-spiritual/religious-ruins/killursa-church/#:~:text=The%20name%20Killursa%20comes%20from,work%20and%20founded%20other%20monasteries. |website=Visit Galway |access-date=18 February 2025}}
The graveyard contains a combination of old and modern gravestones. Some of the more interesting graves include carved Celtic crosses and symbols and inscriptions in Irish and Latin. Many of the surviving gravestones date from the 18th century. There is a statue of St. Fursa near the entrance to the graveyard.{{cite web |title=Killursa |url=https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/places/headford/places-headford/killursa |website=Galway County Heritage Office |access-date=18 February 2025 |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421061533/https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/places/headford/places-headford/killursa |url-status=live }}
History
A monastery is believed to have been founded in the 7th century on this site or nearby, on the shore of Lough Corrib by Saint Fursa. Saint Fursa was legendary in medieval literature for his visions of angels and the afterlife. The church dates from the 12th or 13th century. It was formally known as "Furnee".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvmEAAAAIAAJ&q=Killursa|title=The history of Galway|first=Sean|last=Spellissy|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Celtic Bookshop|isbn=9780953468331|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFZ6AAAAIAAJ&q=Killursa&pg=RA1-PA371|title=A Chorographical Description of West Or H-Iar Connaught: Written A.D. 1684|first=Roderic|last=O'Flaherty|date=30 November 2017|publisher=For the Irish Archaeological Society|via=Google Books}} The church was probably used until the 18th century when it was abandoned and fell into ruin.{{cite web |title=St. Fursey |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06324d.htm |website=Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date=18 February 2025 |archive-date=27 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127095759/https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06324d.htm |url-status=live }}