The Irish name for Ardrahan Parish which lies in the Barony of Dunkellin, but portions of it are in Kiltartan and Loughrea baronies, about four and a half miles north by east from the town of Gort in the County of Galway, is Ard Rathain which may signify the height of the fork of rath. In the word Raitain as locally pronounced, the vowels are short in both syllables. Perhaps therefore it may be from the Old Irish word ratan ferns as well as Cuil Rathan now Coleraine, which is, translated secessus filicis in the Triparte Life of St Patrick. The Rath in which the name originated is not pointed out by the inhabitants of the north is there such a feature in existence, as far as I could learn, at present about the village of Ardrahan, that might be considered as the one which became the designative. The village is certainly at the original locality which bore the name, for it is on the declivity of rising ground, the highest part of which is occupied by an old church in ruins, by the parish church close by it, a small remnant of a round tower and an old castle, which stands in ruins, a short distance to the north-east of the church-yard, within a square fortification. There are some who conjecture it was from this fort the place took the name, but this conjecture does not deserve notice.

The first sight greeting the southbound traveler through Ardrahan is that of the Castle, and up on a hill the Church and tower, complete with clock, of the only C. of I. Church still being used in the Diocese of Kilmacdua.

Unofficially at least, it is the Cathedral Church of Kilmacdua [Kilmacdua as a diocese was unusual in that it never had a cathedral or a Bishop appointed].

Built in 1890 for £900 it is unprentenious but rather beautiful, nestling in the tree-lined churchyard. The east window depicting the ascension and set in the semicircular altar wall, is its most imposing feature. This was made in Dublin in 1908 by two lady artistes of the emerging stained glass industry, pioneered by Edward Martyn. The inscription on it reads "To the glory of God, erected by 5^th Lord Clanmorris and in loving memory of his father & mother. A.D. 1908."

Looking at the plaques on the wainscoted walls we see the names of the families who worshipped here for generations. The congregation here was never very large.

A report published in 1835 states that" the average number of persons attending is which is rather increasing. "The report also states that there was a rector and a curate at that time, the rector recently would having become non-resident. The congregation would have consisted mostly of the local landlord families’ i.e. Clanmorrisco of Cregclareo ,Shaweo Taylor of Castletav O.hara of Raheen house, Alexander of Maryville, and their servants who were obliged to worship regularly. The largest plaque ,in white marble, reads in a vault of this churchyard are deposited the remains of Lieutenant General Sir John Taylor K.C.B. of Castletaylor in this parish who died suddenly on 8^th December , aged 73.

Nearby a brass plaque, reads" In affectionate remembrance of Francis Hanly Shawe- Taylor, late Captain Coldstream Guards, youngest son of W.M. Cunliffe Shawe of Southgate house, Middlesex, Esq. Died 27^th June 1862 aged 62 buried in Kilmacduagh. Aslo of Albinea Hester, wife of above, eldest daughter of Lieut. General Sir John Taylor, K.C.B. of Castletaylor. Died at Leamington, Sept. 8^th 1872, aged 72.Buried at Old Milverton."Other smaller plaques are dedicated to the memory of such as Charlotte Barlowe,

Wife of W.T.Conway Poole, Indian Army, to Burton Bingham and Henry Derek Thomas Bingham and others.The church houses a magnificent organ, rising almost to the ceiling. It was presented to Ardrahan Church by Bangor Parish in 1887 in honour of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and still plays almost perfectly, needing only a strong pumper of the bellows to fill the huge pipes ad allow the music to ring out again.