Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Described by Carrigan as 'The Church (LA033-017001-) of Bawnaghra, in Irish Kyle-aghra, stands in the centre of the "Church field", a tract of 10 acres, now broken up into several small, plots, but formerly constituting one undivided area surrounded by a triple rampart of earth and double fosse. Portions of the ramparts, known as "the old sconces", yet remain. A great battle is said to have been fought here, and cart-loads of human bones, the remains of the fallen, were discovered years ago, while the ramparts were being cut through to prepare the site for James Curran's dwellinghouse. The graveyard (LA033-017002-) at the south side, has been destroyed and rich corn crops now grow over the remains of the dead. A short distance away there is a well, not holy, called Thubberachoppel, the horse's well' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 283). A large circular enclosure is indicated on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The circuit of this enclosure (diam. c. 280m E-W x c. 230m N-S) is marked as 'The Sconces' on the revised 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map. Aerial photographs (OSI 2005) show that the enclosing bank of the enclosure has been levelled and is visible as a cropmark in aerial photographs (OSI 2000).

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.

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 17 January 2012