Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a low ridge about 200m S of abbey site (LA033-009001-). Described as a church (L c. 11.7m, Wth c. 10.65m) with doorway in S wall (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 345). No visible surface remains except for a rubble limestone wall (L 10m) running E-W. Modern farm buildings immediately to E of site.

Described by Carrigan as 'Clonmeen Church is about 200 yards south of the Abbey (LA033-009001-). It measures externally, 39 ft. in length, 25.5 ft. in width, the side-walls being 32 in. thick, and the east gable 43 in. There was adoor in the soputh wall 13 ft. From the west gable, its foundation stones are still in situ and show it to have been but 30 in. wide. In the same wall, near the east end, there is a rudely constructed credence, 16.5 in. wide, with a rectilineally pointed arch formed by two small flags meeting each other at the top. The south wall is fairly well preserved; the east gable is fallen to within a yard of the ground; the west gable is gone almost entirely; of the north wall only some small fragments remain. No interments have taken place, nor are there any traces of graves. Nevertheless there was a very large graveyard all around the church' (Carrigan 1905, Vol. 2, 345).

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