Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Associated with St Colman (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 246). Nave and chancel church (L c. 13.75m; Wth c. 8m) built of roughly coursed limestone and sandstone rubble, within a rectangular graveyard 9LA018-021002-). Surviving features include a single-light tracery window in the E gable, and a pointed arch doorway, with a later brick arch insertion, in S wall. A cut stone dressed capital with a chamfered outer edge is visible on N jamb. Buttress to S of doorway is visible on N jamb. Buttress to S of doorway. Remains of an aumbry at E end of S wall. This was the burial place of the O'Moores of Cremorgan (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 375). An earthen bank (Wth c. 2.55m, int. H c. 0.4m, ext. H c. 1.25m), retained by a stone wall externally, defines the graveyard from NW-SE. In 1616 a rector named Thomas Haslam, a reading minister with a residence. The church and its chancel were then in good repair and furnished with books (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 246).

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