Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

A monastery at Lemanaghan (Liath Manchán) was founded in the 7th century by Manchán whose feastday is celebrated on the 24th of January (Ó Riain 2011, 429). Lemanaghan Castle (OF015-004001-) located 35m to NW.
In centre of Lemanaghan graveyard are the ruins of a multi-period rectangular church (OF015-004003-) with medieval building known as St Managhan's House (OF015-004005-) in NW quadrant. The graveyard (approx. dims. 54m N-S x 65m E-W) is enclosed by a polygonal shaped stone wall of post-1700 date with entrance gate and stile in W wall. Second stile in SE wall gives access to the holy well (OF015-004007-) and St. Mella's Cell (OF015-004006-) 350m to the E. The memorials in the graveyard date from the 18th century to modern times.
One early Christian cross-slab is now attached to the E wall of the church and a second slab is attached to the S wall close to the SE angle. 12 early Christian cross-slabs (OF015-004016-/032-) are now located inside the disused schoolhouse 30m NW of the graveyard. A single erect stone (OF015-004005-) decorated with spiral and fret motif with possible maze pattern is located in the graveyard to the SW of the church (OF015-004003-). (Cooke 1875, 343; Crawford 1911, 151-6; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 82-3; Lionard 1961, 141-5)

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

Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 14 September 2018

References

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

Crawford, H.S. 1911 The early slabs at Lemanaghan, King's County. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 41, 151-6.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1933 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the King's County collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.

Lionard, P. 1961 Early Irish grave-slabs. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 61C, 95-161.

Cooke, T.L. 1875 The early history of the town of Birr. Dublin. Robertson.