House - early medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the early ecclesiastical enclosure of Tullylease (CO006-006011-), on slope leading down to stream to N. Depicted as a rectangular structure named 'Prionte' on the 1842 OS 6-inch map, and as 'Prionte (Site of)' on the 1905 OS 6-inch map. Known locally as St Berehert's house (Larkin 1978-79, 51). Rectangular structure (8.25m E-W; 5.95m N-S); walls (H c. 1m) appear to have been recently rebuilt. Entrances are on E side and at W end of N wall. According to Reeves (1858, 270), stones from the wall 'possess the virtue of securing the bearer against fire and storm; and as a natural consequence, the little structure has nearly disappeared.' In 1906 'only the trace of the building' remained (Lynch 1911, 67). Abutting N wall is St. Benjamin's Well (CO006-006002-); Bowman (1934, 698) recorded that 'about, 15 years ago', stones were removed from this structure, locally known as 'The Hut', to build present wall around St. Benjamin's Well. Smooth, roughly circular stone (diam. 0.9m; T 0.18m), leaning against inner face of S wall, roughly incised with pilgrims cross. The name 'Prionte', is said to derive from 'prionnteach' or refectory (Lynch ibid., 81).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 14 January 2009

References

Bowman, M. 1934 The placenames and antiquities of the barony of Duhallow. Unpublished MA thesis, University College, Cork. Reeves, W. 1858 St Beretchert of Tullylease. Ulster Journal of Archaeology 6, 267-75. Lynch, J.F. 1911 Tullylease. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 17, 66-87. Larkin, W. 1978-9 Tullylease. Seanchas Dúthalla 3, 50-52.