Religious house - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on slightly elevated land with the River Gowl to the SW. Upstanding remains consists of portions of W wall and N walls of church (dims c. 7m E-W, c. 8m N-S). Elevated area to the E and S. Reference to a nunnery and possible enclosure (LA035-001002-) here (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 229).

Described by Carrigan as 'The "Nunnery" of Newtown, or Cahir, stood close to the bounds of raheenleeagh and Gurteen, on the small grassy angle, a quarter of an acre in extent, formed by the junction of the Gowl with the Ratheenleeagh stream. An artificial trench, now filled up, formerly insulated the little angle, making it a regular delta. All around in winter time, is an immense waste of water and marsh. The ruins still remaining consist of a very small quadrangular apartment, like a turret, its walls 4 ft. thick and very rudely built; it is nearly levelled with the earth, except on the south side, where the wall is 10 ft. high. A few paces west of this there is a clump of whitethorns which seems to mark the site of another building' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 229).

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