Ecclesiastical site

The National Monuments Service's description

A monastery was founded in the 7th-century at Saggart (Teach Sagard) by St Moshagra (Moagra, Momhagra or Tagra), who was the son of Seanán of the Dál Meisin Corb and patron of the church at Glendalough (Ó Riain 2011, 498-9). The 3rd of March is the feastday of the saint who is associated with the church at Clonenagh [LA017-003001-], Co. Laois and the church at Killynee [WI045-003001-], Co. Wicklow. He is also the patron saint of the church of Tomhaggard [Teach Moshagra WX047-052001-], Co. Wexford and was one of the signatories of the cáin or 'church tax' of Adhamhnán. The site of the medieval church (DU021-034002-) of Saggart (Teach Sagard) stands in the centre of a roughly circular-shaped graveyard (DU021-034003-) which was probably built on the site of the monastery founded by St Moshagra. Ronan (1941, 28) recorded the following details about Saggart; ‘The founder of Tassagard (Tigh Sacra) is said to have been "Mosaccra, abbot, of Cluain-eidhneach [Clonenagh LA017-003019-] in Laoighis [Laois], and of Tigh Sacra, in vicinity of Tamlacht [Tallaght], and, of Fionn-mhagh in Fotharta" [Killynee] (Martyrol. of Donegal, at 3 March). He is mentioned as having been present at the Synod of Flan Fabhla, Archbishop of Armagh, in 697'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 25 March 2023

References

Ronan, M.V. 1941 Royal Visitation of Dublin, 1615. In Archivium Hibernicum 8, 1-55.

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.