Mausoleum

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked on the 1840 ed OS 6-inch map only. Reference to C17th vault here. (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 237). Vault is now modernised. Situated NE of the modern church, the vault has been modernised. Four pieces of cut limestone lie at the E side of the vault, one stone from a cloister arcade and two window jambs.

Described by Carrigan as 'The burial vaults at Aghmacart are said to have been extensive and to have probably penetrated far under the building to the north of the Protestant church. Only one vault is now to be seen here; it belongs to the Fitzpatricks of Coolcashin, and has, over the doorway, the following inscription, of about 1770 'Pray for the souls of thye Fitzpatrick family interred in this Vault'
The vault itself, however, appears to be much older than the inscription, and may have been built early in the 17th century to receive the remains of Florence, Lord Baron of Upper Ossory, or Geoffrey Fitzpatrick, Esq. of Tintore, both of whom were buried at Aghmacart' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 239).

This barrel vaulted building is orienated on a N-S axis and is located to the S of the priory of which it was once part of. Probably served as a domestic residence of a monk which was accessed of the cloister that was located to the S of the Augustinian priory (LA034-019003-). In the late medieval period this vaulted structured was re-used as a burial place for the Fitzpatrick family. There is a single light window in the centre of the N wall of the tomb and in the centre of the E wall.

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