Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Westropp (1915, 272) in describing the ecclesiastical enclosure at Templemore (CL017-094001-) says ‘the wall is entirely overgrown and a thick hedge of bramble and hawthorn covers it, like the great, half demolished ring, in which the Abbey of Canons’ Island in the Fergus stands’. He includes a plan of Canon Island abbey (ibid., p. 271) showing the enclosure extant from N to SW. The area around the abbey (CL060-011001-) on Canon Island is very overgrown with near impenetrable vegetation cover. The enclosing feature is visible on an aerial photograph (CUCAP BGJ036) prior to the growth of vegetation. Part of a wall was identified E of the abbey in 2002, at its base was a bank (max. H 0.7m) but not enough remained to determine if it was curving. An arched gatehouse (CL060-011007-) lies along the line of the possible enclosure at SW.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 3 July 2019

References

Westropp, T.J. 1915 Prehistoric remains (forts and dolmens) in Burren and its south western border, Co. Clare. Part 12: North Western Part. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 5, 45-62, 249-74.