Jumping Church — Attraction in The Municipal District of Ardee

This little ruined church is one of the quirkiest historical sites in Ireland — and full of mystery and legend. The ruins are those of a 14th-century parish church, built on the site of the much earlier church of Deomog. After the Norman invasion in the 12th century, the parish came under the control of the Knights Templar, a crusading order who dedicated their church here to St. Catherine. From 1313 until the suppression of religious houses in 1540, it was cared for by the Knights Hospitaller, the lineal ancestors of today’s Knights of Malta.

The site became famous after a violent storm in 1715, when one wall was said to have “jumped” several feet from its foundation — yet it landed perfectly intact, still standing upright. The local legend says the shift happened because a man who wasn’t of the true faith was buried inside the consecrated ground. The storm “spat him out,” forcing the wall to move, leaving his grave outside the boundary.

The place itself feels incredibly peaceful. Among the old graves, you’ll find one plot fenced with a chain lined with big iron spikes, a skull carving that really catches the eye, and even quirky little stone angels — just heads with wings — that are centuries old but look almost cartoonish and funny today.

There’s parking at the side of the road for maybe three cars, but it’s never busy, so you won’t have trouble stopping. Site is really well looked after.

Quiet, atmospheric, and steeped in both history and folklore — a hidden gem well...

Having heard about these ruins from various sources I actually stumbled across it when out for a spin today. Located down a country road (rough & right at times) a short distance from Ardee. There is an area to pull the car in & park but no dedicated carpark or wheelchair access. Whilst there is a gate it was tightly closed so I had to use the old stone steps built into the wall- a real country feature. I visited on a warm but overcast day with a cooling breeze that blew through the high grass and trees adding to the ambiance. As mentioned in previous reviews this is the ruins of a 14th century church built on the ruins of the ancient Church of Deomog. The graveyard was restored back in the 50's and is maintained by the locals. Luckily I had my walking boots as it had rained a few days beforehand & the ground was still quite wet. The Jumping Wall, is the first feature that you see as you enter. The walls are thick and certainly show the excellent workmanship of the ancestors. There are also a range of headstones from crosses, carved stone & what now look to be smaller standing stones. Definitely a must for anyone with an interest in some of the stranger Irish stories...

An amazing sight whether you're a sceptic or believer; there can be no doubting something dramatic happened here back in 1715. Given the tonnage, you can rule out a prank or high winds. Maybe the wall had weathered, bellied inwards, and then eventually broke free of its foundations, sliding forwards and therefore, maintaining its upright position with rubble and the remaining wall giving it the support needed to stay erect. Maybe it was a supernatural event indicating God's displeasure at burying an excommunicated person in hallowed ground. However, if that is so, why has St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle never budged (burial place of Henry VIII)?

A worthwhile and interesting visit. Also, one of Wolfe Tone's fellow rebels is buried somewhere within the graveyard; he was hanged in Drogheda during the United Irishmen's Rebellion (Éirí Amach na nÉireannach...