Loughinisland Churches are a group of three ancient ruined churches in a cemetery on the island in Loughinisland Lake, reached by a causeway. The earliest recorded reference is to a parish church on the site in 1306. The Middle Church is the oldest, probably from the 13th century. The large North Church was built in the 15th century, probably to replace the Middle Church, and continued in use until 1720. The smallest is the South (MacCartan's) Church, the elaborately carved west door of which has the date 1636 and initials PMC for Phelim MacCartan. The ancient monument of
Annadorn Dolmen is on the north east shore of Loughinisland Lake, within sight of the Churches. The
dolmen, some 3,500 years old, consists of a slightly displaced
capstone covering a rectangular chamber of which three side stones survive. It is thought that it may be the remains of a passage tomb. It was upon the capstone of this monument that Thomas Russell, one of the co-founders of the
Society of United Irishmen, stood to urge the people of Loughinisland to join the unsuccessful Emmett Rising of 1803. However whilst hiding in Dublin he was arrested. He was sent to Downpatrick Gaol where he was executed by hanging and was then beheaded, on 21 October 1803. He was 35 years of age. ==People==