The Jumping Wall at Kildemock Church is located just outside the town of Ardee in Co. Louth, Ireland.
The stone west wall of the ruined church is said to “jumped” about three feet (a little less than a meter) off its foundation yet remained upright although a slight titled angle.
Shrouded in local mythology, the story of the jumping wall involves either the weather or paranormal activity.
One story has it that the wall moved during a powerful storm in February 1715. The other legend has it that the wall moved away from a grave located a few feet outside the wall of a man who had been excommunicated from the church.
A plaque on the wall states: “This wall by its pitch, tilt and position can be seen to have moved three feet from its foundation. Contemporary accounts mention a severe storm in 1715 when the wall was lifted and deposited as it now stands but local tradition states that the wall jumped inwards to exclude the grave of an excommunicated person.
Another explanation is the wall’s movement is a hoax and the twin tales were spun to attract pilgrims and tourists to the site. Some sources downplay the idea of a hoax because skilled craftsman would have been needed to create the wall. The gable wall is about 19 feet high, 15 feet wide (17 meters long and 7 meters wide) and three feet thick.
The Kildemock church and its surrounding graveyard are ancient.
Excavations and restoration took place at the site about 70 years ago. In 1953-54 archaeologists in 1953-54 removed centuries accumulated debris and the true outline of the church became apparent, as did the “jumping” wall. According to one report, in 1953, fragments of a stained glass window, lead and a silver penny with Edward III’s likeness stamped on it were recovered. Edward III was king of England January 1327 until his death in 1377.
A bullaun stone is located at the north entrance to the church. A medieval cross grave slab is located near the southwest corner of the structure.
The ancient Church of Deomog once stood on this site, according to the Visions of the Past website. https://visionsofthepastblog.com/2013… It is believed a disciple of St. Patrick and St. Benen founded the early Christian church that stood on the site.
After the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, the parish came under the control of the Knights Templar, and this church was built in the early 14th century in honor of St Catherine.
The church remained under the control of the Knights Templar until the order was suppressed in 1312 when ownership passed to the Knights Hospitallers until Henry VIII’s religious suppression of the 1540s. When the church fell into ruins is unknown, though one of the grave slabs in the church is dated 1688.
The graveyard around the church ruins appears to have been in continuous use hundreds of years, and there are number of tombstones and grave markers where names and dates have completely eroded away. The graveyard is still in use today.
Regardless of the myths surrounding the wall, the site is a beautiful, contemplative place.
No one seems in a hurry to dispel any of the myths surrounding the “jumping” wall and the site does indeed attract curious visitors.
#ireland #irish #irishhistory #countylouth #ancientireland #jumpingchurch #jumpingwall