The Irish Taj Mahal

The stunning ruin of the Old Church of Dunlewey is a lasting memorial to a great love affair between James Russell, the landlord of the Dunlewey estate, and his wife Jane, just like the Taj Mahal.

James Russell married Jane Smith in 1825 and they set up married life in London.
Using the wealth they had acquired in London, the couple decided to leave England and purchase the Dunlewey estate.
James died in 1848. Heartbroken, his widow decided to build the church as a monument for her husband.
Like the Taj Mahal, the building was constructed using white marble and also blue quartzite which was quarried locally.Read more