Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated within ringfort (LA034-004003-). Tradition of a Nunnery here (Carrigan 1905, vol.2, 6, 341-2). No standing remains survive but Carrigan (ibid., 342) refers to S wall of a church (int. dim. c. 7m) which was situated inside the D-shaped graveyard (LA034-004002-). Dressed limestone blocks and the top of an ogee headed twin-light window referred to by Carrigan (ibid.) are still to be seen. Bullaun stone (LA034-004004-) with depression in E face, and known as St Bridget's stone, lies in S end of graveyard.

Described by Carrigan as 'The church of Ballybuggy was situated on the summit of a low hill, within a round rath (LA034-004003-) 40 yards in diameter and still showing traces of a stone and mortar caiseal along the top of the enclosing earthen rampart. It was about 23 ft. wide internally; its length cannot be determined. All that remains of it now is part of the south side-wall, about 1 ft. in height. There are several well-dressed blocks of limestone scattered about the graveyard (LA034-004002-), one of them being part of the cap of an ogee-headed window divided by a mullion. Part of the graveyard was walled in by the Board of Guardians about 1880. The head-stones are all rude and unisncribed.' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 341-2).

Revisited by Caimin O'Brien on the 03 May 2007. Church site and graveyard located within S half of impressive bivallate ringfort (LA034-004003-) that has a raised interior with possible stone lined ramped entrance still visible at NW. No surface remains of medieval church visible within graveyard (int. dims. 22m N-S; 39m E-W; wall t 0.5m; wall H 1.15m), earthworks of medieval settlement located immediately to S of church and graveyard. Single fragment of a twin light medieval window head with hollowed spandrels visible in centre of graveyard is all that remains of medieval church.

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