Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Unlocated medieval settlement in the modern town of Abbeyleix, described by Feehan as 'The medieval village of Abbeyleix developed under the shadow of the important Cistercian monastery founded in 1183; it lay northwards from the abbey, close to the Nore in the vicinity of the present townland of Oldtown' (Feehan 1983, 371).

The historic town of Abbeyleix, no evidence for any fabric of pre 1700 in the modern town of Abbeyleix that was associated with the abbey of Abbeyleix (O'Flanagan 1933, vol 2, p. 89). The site of the old town is not indicated on a surviving manuscript map of the mid or late seventeenth century, although Abbey Leix is given a population of 52 families in the 1659 census (Feehan 1983, 373). Seveteenth century map shows the abbey standing in isolation on the east bank of the river, along a highway which branches a short distance north of the abbey, one branch going to Birr, the other to Maryborough. The old town was situated at this fork, which is the present Oldtown Cross. In the seventeenth century the Portlaoise road took the line of the present Oldtown-Portlaoise road, but the Birr road ran from Oldtown towards Poorman's Bridge (Feehan 1983, 373-4).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 17 December 2007