Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Possibly associated with St Tiedil. Used for Protestant service in the seventeenth century (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 280-281). A medieval church (max. L c. 11m; Wth c. 7.7m; wall T c. 0.8m) built of roughly coursed limestone blocks. Remains consist of E gable with a segmental arched doorway (Wth c. 1.1m, wall T c. 0.68m) and a rectangular window overhead. No architectural remains visible in surviving portions of N and S walls. Irregularly shaped uninscribed grave-markers visible in graveyard (LA013-053002-).

If Dunamase is to be identified with the Newtown of Leys then its church was that at Kilteale (Urban Survey 1986, 33). The earliest direct reference to the church of the Newtown of Leys is in the taxation of 1302-06 when it was taxed at 12 marks (Sweetman 1875-86, v, p. 468). The existence of the church, however is implied by the reference in 1297 to John, vicar of the Newtown of Leys (Mills 1905, 192).

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