Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 324), ‘The townlands of Rathculbin and Spruce’s Hay made up the ancient parish of Rathculbin. This parish is mentioned in the Red Book of Ossory as Rathgulby, Ragulby and Rakylbyn. Soon after the Norman Invasion Rathculbin was granted to Ralph de Borard, who appropriated its free chapel (contulit liberam capellam praedictae villae de Rathgulby,) to the Priory of Kells…The chapel of Rathgulby, with its glebe, is mentioned among the possessions of Kells Priory in 1411’. The location of the church and graveyard is unknown, however, Carrigan (ibid. 324-5) suggests several possibilities (see KK027-059001-; KK027-059002-; KK027-067----). He also mentions, in the same townland of Rathculbin, ‘a third rath, or what, at least, resembled a rath, here, in Rathculbin “Bawn,” a field belonging to a farmer named Torpey. The late owner, Mr. Thomas Torpey, described it to the writer as a circular area, enclosed by an earthen rampart, and overgrown with white-thorns. It area was a quarter of an acre. It was levelled many years ago by his father, who, in the course of the work, came upon human bones’. This enclosure (KK027-068001-) and the burials (KK027-068002-) are unlocated within the townland.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 6 April 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.