Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 56) notes that, ‘Down to the Norman Invasion, St. Kieran, of Saighir, was patron of Kells parish and parish church; soon after the old patron was laid aside, and both parish and church were dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross’. The old parish church of St Kieran (KK027-029009-), which was probably rebuilt in the 17th century incorporating Romanesque fragments from the earlier church, is likely to have been at the centre of an ecclesiastical enclosure which has been identified by Clyne (2007, 19-20). Clyne (ibid. 19) suggests that one portion of this large curvilinear enclosure survives as a curving field boundary (L c. 90m), indicated on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map and visible at ground level as a low earthen bank (H 0.5-0.8m; Wth c. 2.5m), which runs south-eastward from the SE tower of the outer bawn of Kells priory (KK027-029004-) to the NE angle of a former walled garden/orchard, also depicted on the 6-inch OS maps.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 10 May 2023

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.

Clyne, M. 2007 Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Dublin.