Church

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 81. Rectangular church (ext. dims. 7m N-S; 14.3m E-W; wall T 0.8m) built with coursed rubble limestone located to the SE of the Cathedral (OF005-004001-). Double single light E window with round arches surrounded by continuous moulding which belongs to the 13th-century (Leask 1960, vol. 2, 59) while the pointed two centred doorway at the W end of the S wall is a late medieval insertion. Directly over the door there is the original hood moulding similar to the hood moulding over the doorway to the sacristy in the cathedral (OF005-004001-). Single light window in the E end of the S wall has a later medieval head inserted into an earlier thirteenth century window indicated by the different stone dressing between the window jambs and its arch. Second storey or gallery at the W end, only indicated by the post holes for a wooden floor. The projecting corbels at the corners of the church served the same purpose as the antae on the earlier churches (Roof support). (O' Donovan 1856-7, 447; Monahan 1886, 65; Westropp 1907; 287-9; Macalister 1910, 24; O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 62; Molloy 1950, 5-6; Harbison 1972, 204, Langan Vol. 1, 76; Manning 1994, 26-7)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011