Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In low-lying area. Undifferentiated church within an almost circular graveyard (int. diam. 48m) which is delimited by a stone wall. The church (max. dims. c. 18.70m E-W, 8m N-S, wall T 0.8m) is built of rubble and sandstone, and was recently partially rebuilt with W wall in wrong position. Featureless, but some large sandstone quoins remain in place in NE and SE angles. Quernstone-base (diam 0.43m) with small central hole lies on wall of graveyard. Early Christian cross-slabs originally from here have been moved to Clonaslee church (LA002-012).

Situated on W facing slope of rising ground in upland area with nearby stream 45m to the E of the graveyard (LA002-013002-). Poorly preserved church located in the centre of a D-shaped graveyard defined by a sandstone wall (H 1.3m; wall T 0.45m). Low earth and stone bank (Top Wth 2.5m; base Wth 4m; int. H 0.4m; ext. H 0.6m) with traces of a outer fosse visible at E only; this bank runs out from the base of the graveyard wall at SE and forms a circular boundary to the E of the upstanding graveyard wall. This bank appears to be the remains of an earlier graveyard boundary or may be remains of a small ecclesiastical enclosure (LA002-013004-). This bank is located at a distance of 28m from the outer face of the graveyard wall at E. Curving section of graveyard wall to N of church may be on line of earlier enclosure (approx. diam. 75m). Only the E gable of the church (int. dims. N-S 6.1m; 13.5m E-W; wall T 1m) stands to near full height with the S wall and E end of the N wall standing up to 1m high, only the lower wall foundations of the W wall survive. Evidence of small aumbry off centre to S in E wall with destroyed E window in centre of E gable. The base of the aumbry is constructed with a re-used early christian sandstone cross-slab (LA002-013005-) decorated with a double line incised cross with circular base (Feehan 1983, 410). Broken quern stone (diam. 0.41m; T 0.1m) lying on top of S wall located off centre to E, second possible quern stone re-used as capping stone in S quadrant of graveyard wall.
This church is situated in the parish of Kilmanman and according to O'Hanlon it was associated with St Manman, who in the seventh century built 'the monastery of Lanchoil or Lahoil, and he called it Corigeen, or the "hermitage of the rocks". Near it is a barrow called "the Giant's Grave' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, 267). This church was located beside an old road connecting the village of Clonaslee with the settlement at Cadamstown (Feehan 1979, 97). According to Feehan the name Labchoil or Lahoil was derived from the Irish lann-coill, meaning church wood or from leamh-coill meaning an elm wood (Feehan 1979, 97). Lahool bridge sitiuated to the SE of the church and graveyard still preserves the memory of this placename.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 17 December 2007