Sarcophagus

The National Monuments Service's description

St. Abban founded a church here in 650 (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 247-49). The burgeses of Killabban gave 60s. yearly for their burgage in 1348. Killabban was defended by The Earl of Kildare in wars against the O'Mordha of Slemargy around 1358. The Borough declined in the late fourteenth century. (Bradley et. al. 1986, 40). In undulating countryside. The church is listed in the ecclesiastical taxation of the diocese in 1302-06 (Cal. doc. Ire., 249). Remains of a divided nave and chancel church built of coursed limestone rubble, dating to thirteenth century with alterations in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Fifteen pieces of cut stone visible around the graveyard (LA026-013002-), some used as gravemarkers. Remains of broken sarcophagus of thirteenth or fourteenth century date within the chancel. Five large pieces of stone lying in the chancel are derived from a broken sarcophagus. They display a tooled outer surface. One half of the recess for the head. Another is split along the drainage hole. Unfortunately the pieces are too fragmentary to gain an adequate idea of the form of the interior (Bradley et. al. 1986, 40).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 17 December 2007

References

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).

Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H.A. 1986 Urban archaeological survey - county Laois. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

O'Hanlon, Rev. J., O'Leary, Rev. E. and Lalor, Rev. M. 1914 (Reprint 1981) History of the Queen's county, vol. 2. Kilkenny. Roberts Books Ltd.