Skreen

Skreen		Church

County	Meath	Coordinates	N 53° 35' 09.4" W 006° 33' 46.3"
Nearest town	Dunshaughlin	Grid Ref.	N 95225 60508
Map No.	43	Elevation a.s.l. (m)	148
Date of visit	Wednesday 3 May 2006	GPS Accuracy (m)	6
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This beautiful 16th century carved slab is the gravestone of the Marward family, barons of Skreen. It was commissioned by William Nugent and his wife Janet Marward to commemorate her father, Walter, died around 1564, and her grandmother, Maud Cusack, nee Darcy.

Skreen church dates from the 15th century. The name Skreen derives from "An Scrín", the Irish for "The Shrine", because in 875 the relics of St. Colmcille were brought to a monastery built at this site for safety. The monastery was attacked and plundered several times between the 10th and the 12th century. The relics of the saint were robbed in 1027, but were recovered some time later.
The structure had two sections. A nave where the congregation sat and a chancel where the altar was. The latter one is totally missing.
At its west end there is a massive square tower, but the top of it is damaged and partly collapsed.
There are two doorways, one in the north wall and the other one in the south wall. In this same wall there are also two large windows.
Above the door of the south wall there’s a carving of a bishop. This figure was probably a decoration on one of the cloister piers and dates to the 14th century.
To the northeast of the church is a late medieval stone cross 1.50 metres tall with a crucifixion carved on its west face.
Inside the tower there are a badly damaged baptismal font and a medieval grave slab.

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