Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Early Christian monastery known as Teach Sáráin [Tisaran/House of Saran] founded by Sárán, son of Brógán of the Dál gCais of Thomond in the seventh century (Ó Riain 2011, 547-8; ITA Survey 1942). In 1942 it was recorded that the feastday of St Saran was not remembered locally, although there was a pattern held at Tisaran until the early years of the last century (ibid.).
Situated on a natural rise on low-lying land with N bank of River Brosna 350m to SSE, St. Sarans holy well (OF022-005---) lies 670 to NE. The church has been partially rebuilt by a local community scheme which altered the fabric and the original layout of the church. There is evidence of dressed stones from several periods in the new walls which consists of window jambs etc. Present remains consist of a divided nave (ext. dims. 6.7m N-S; 16.9m E-W; wall T 0.9m) and chancel (ext. dims. 7.1m E-W; 6.7m N-S) structure however this division is of recent origin and does not appear to be original. The E gable no longer survives above ground, a late medieval pointed doorway with chamfered and finely punch dressed jambs is visible in the W end of the S wall and appears to have been inserted into an earlier window embrasure which was blocked up as a result. Two wall niches at the E end of the N and S walls. It is unclear if the church was originally divided into a nave and chancel before the restoration scheme started. The stonework suggests that this was an early medieval church which was altered in the 16th/17th-century via the insertion of a pointed doorway. There are several ogee headed windows lying on the ground with several decorated spandrels at the W end of the church interior.
Medieval church ruins described in 1942 as following; ‘The ruins of the church measure about 80 ft. [24.4m] in length but one section of this ruins seems to be of much later date than the other. This section forms a rectangular building: Length 40 ft. [12.2m], Breadth 20 [6m] and the wall at their highest point being about 18 ft. [5.5m] high. No section of roof remains. A massive arched doorway occupies the East end of this building: Height 15 ft. [4.6m], Breadth, 10 ft. [3m]. This is just a plain arch, the top portion being composed of brick. In the south west corner is a small cut stone window or doorway of the Gothic type. Height from base to point of arch is 4½ ft. [1.4m] but the bottom is only 1ft. [0.3m] away from the present floor. I believe it was used as a doorway. Local people say that this building was in use early in the last century and there is a divergence of opinion as to whether it was a place of Catholic or Protestant worship. The graveyard is used still and a curious custom prevails which would lead one to believe that their section of the building was really a protestant Church. When Funerals enter the graveyard they avoid entering the more modern section of the ruins but the coffin is deposited on the ruins of the older building and left there for a few moments. The older ruins form a continuation of the present building but there is nothing to be seen except mounds of earth and grass covered stonework which form the shape of a building. Graveyard is in very bad state being very much overgrown with grass and weeds and large trees cover the ruins and major portion of the burial ground’ (ITA Survey).
Early 17th-century chest-tomb (OF022-004002-) located immediately W of the church ruins. Graveyard (OF022-004001-) contains 18th/19th-century headstones and is enclosed by a modern stone wall. Early Christian cross-slab (OF022-004003-) recorded by Crawford (1913, 262-5) is now located inside High St. RC church near Belmont village.

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: 28 February 2019

References

Irish Tourist Association. Surveys undertaken in the 1940s for the Irish Tourist Association (now Fáilte Ireland) relating to ‘Natural features, antiquities, historic associations etc.' Extracts from these surveys were copied into the Topographical files of the Office of Public Works and these have been incorporated into the Sites and Monuments Record files (National Monuments Service).

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

Crawford, H.S. 1913 A descriptive list of early cross-slabs and pillars. (cont.) Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 43, 151-69, 261-5, 326-34.