Category:St. Molua's Church, Killaloe

English: St Molua’s Church originally stood on Friar’s Island in the river Shannon, but it was dismantled in 1929 when the island was submerged to a depth of 15’ due to the damming of the river in connection with the Shannon Hydro Electric Scheme. It was rebuilt next to St Flannan's church in 1930 as a reasonably accurate copy of the original.

The church is called after St Molua of Clonfort-mulloe (Co. Laois), a 6th century saint, founder of a monastery on Friar’s island, of which St. Flannan later became patron. Molua died in the early 7th century.

The church has two parts. At the west end is the nave, which provided space for a small congregation. This is the oldest part of the church and it seems to have been originally a small self-contained church which was rebuilt around the 10th / 11th century.

At the east end of the church is the chancel which has a very rare example of a pitched stone roof. It was added some time after the nave was built, possibly as late as the 12th century. The chancel contained the altar and had small niches on either side for altar vessels and candles. (National Monument 279)