The first recorded reference to the church of Oughterard occurs in a list of the deaneries of the diocese of Dublin in the latter part of the thirteenth century. This list revealed that Oughterard belonged to the common fund of St. Patricks Cathedral.
It overlooks the house where Arthur Guinness produced his first pint at Bishopscourt. It is here, in the grounds of Oughterard church, that the remains of Arthur Guinness are buried. Local folklore relates that a dual took place at this site between Daniel OConnell (one of Irelands most famous sons and parliamentarians) and a gentlemen named Destere.
Today the site is open to the public all year round.