The Séipéal is in the townland of
Currahy which is 2 miles East of the village of Béal Atha'n Ghaorthaidh. It
is built on a raised plateau, it can only be seen when standing on the high
stones to the North of the site, it is totally hidden from all other
approaches. The views from the church are beautiful, to the West and
North the Derrynasagart Mountains, to the South the Locha Lua lakes and off
in the distance the Shehy Mountains, to the East the Lee Valley. It is
a quiet tranquil spot, no wonder it was used as a church.
The church is running in a North Southerly direction and it measures 9.6m
North South. It measures 4.8m East West. The thickness of the
walls are 0.7m, the walls are 0.7m high on the inside of the church.
The highest point of the church, is the gable which is to the North of the
building and it measures 1.30m. There is a lot of loose stones, clay,
briars and grass on the inside of the church.
On the
outside Northern face of the gable end there is a large slab 0.7m high by
0.74m wide built into the wall. This slab has an inscription on it
1753 ac (anno christe). The inscription is on the bottom right hand
corner. To the North of the church there is a large stone, sitting on
a rock outcrop. The slab in the church wall appears to come from the
Southern face of this stone.
The four corners of the church
still stand and are in ok condition. There are two large flags leaning
against the outside West wall of the church. The flags are at the
northern end of the wall. The smaller of the two flags measure 0.9m x
0.9m and the bigger flag measures 1.1m x 1.1m, approx. it was
difficult to get near them with briars.
It is believed that the Altar
was on the Northern end of the church, (hence the flags stones) and the
opening was on the Southern wall of the church, I myself believe the opening
was to the East, and until it is cleaned around it the question cannot be
answered.
Fr. Hurley believed that the large stone
to the North of the church was a mass rock. Another local P.P.
believed it to be a gallan. The local people refer to it as a lookout
point. From the top of this stone you can see for miles around, and if
the soldiers were coming, the priest could be warned and he would be well
away.
Another local story goes, that the local gentry used to
hate to see the hunt heading towards the church. If the hare reached
the church he would circle it three times and disappear.