Marks of Time
Historic Buildings as  illustrations of the past.
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Lost Glories - The Twelfth Century


From 1145 Muircertach Mac Loghlainn, based in Derry,  led the Cenel Eoghain against the O’Brien’s in a bid for the High Kingship. A  new abbot, Flaithbertach O’Brolchain was appointed in 1150 and was described for  the first time as ‘successor of Colmkille’. Derry was now aspiring to be secular capital and a leading  ecclesiastical centre. In 1155 a major new door was commissioned for the church. No drawing survives but this would have been built to impress in the latest  Romanesque style. Clonfert Cathedral in Co Galway is perhaps the best example of  this sort of door to survive. 

 
The ‘Tempull Mor’  Translated  as the ‘great church’ this building, constructed in 1165, reflected  Muircertach’s ambition. He was present as High King at the dedication of  Melifont Abbey in Co Meath in 1157 – a complex that imported continental  European Monks and building techniques. It marked a significant change in scale  for Irish church building and it is likely that the king wanted something  similar in his capital. Melifont is now largely gone, but Boyle Abbey  illustrated here was very similar. The plan of the Tempull Mor is shown on a map  of 1685 and appears to be of similar proportion.


The Tempull Mor was  located near  where the Long     Tower Church  is located today. In 1250 it  became a Cathedral. One fragment of the building  is known to survive. This was  set within the foundation stone of St Columb’s  Cathedral in 1633.   The fragment has a  Latin inscription which translated says: ‘The   true god is in the church and truly he is to be worshiped’.

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