Raheen-a-Cluig
Raheenac[h]luig Church, Raheen na gClig, Raheen na Clig
Ráithín an Chloig
Raheen-a-Cluig viewed from the north
Raheen-a-Cluig
53°11′38″N 6°05′26″W / 53.193786°N 6.090484°W / 53.193786; -6.090484
Location	Newcourt, Bray, County Wicklow
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Pre-Reformation Catholic
History
Founded	c. 1200
Dedication	St Michael or St Brendan
Architecture
Functional status	ruined
Style	Norman
Years built	13th century
Specifications
Length	12.5 m (41 ft)
Width	5.3 m (17 ft)
Height	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Number of floors	1
Floor area	66 m2 (710 sq ft)
Materials	stone
Administration
Diocese	Dublin
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Raheenachluig (Bray)
Reference no.	262[1]

Raheen-a-Cluig is a medieval church and National Monument in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.^[2]

Location

Raheen-a-Cluig lies on the north face of Bray Head in Raheen Park, about 300 m (330 yd) south of the beach, with a commanding view over the coastline.

History

Raheen-a-Cluig is believed to have been built in the 12th–13th century AD.^[3] The name derives from the Irish Ráithín an Chloig. This would mean "little fort of the bell", but there is no sign of a fort. Ráithín can also refer to a wall of built-up sods of turf, or it could be a version of raithean, "ferny area". It was given to the Augustines by the then prominent Archbold family. It may have been dedicated to St Michael or St Brendan.^[4][5]

It was partially restored in the 18th century. Over the years it has also been used as a hideout by smugglers, and it associated with various ghost stories.

Church

The ruins have a doorway in the northeast wall which would have originally held a strong timber door, and round-headed windows in the east and west gables.

There were two smaller buildings close by and so is an enclosure: probably a cillín: a burial ground for suicides, shipwrecked sailors, strangers, unrepentant murderers and unbaptised babies.

About a 400 m (¼ mile) southeast of the church there was a holy well, known as Patrick’s Well. This was still used in the 1830s, mostly by invalids.^[6]