Lost Glories - The Twelfth Century |
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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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