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Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland

Church

Rathlihen, County Offaly, Ireland

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915) covering the location of Church, Rathlihen, County Offaly, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1915), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Townland
Rathlihen
County
Offaly
Country
Ireland
Latest-edition OS map
Rathlihen church (in Ruins), Grave Yard
Coordinates
53.19923, -7.64921
SMR number
OF024-036----

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1811 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1869 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗

The National Monuments Service's description

Site of Ancient Abbey founded by St. Illand in the sixth century (O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 47-8). Located on a slight rise of ground with good extensive views with tower house (OF024-036002-) and motte (OF024-036003-) nearby. Poorly preserved rectangular church (ext. dims. 8.6m N-S; 19m E-W; wall T 0.75m) with a barrel vaulted priests room (ext. dims. 8.15m N-S; 4.4m E-W; wall T 0.8m) added at the W end. Only the wall foundations of the church survive with no architectural features visible. Modern pathway to the S replaced the original enclosure around the church which was discovered during recent renovations to the graveyard. Located in the graveyard wall is a decorated stone with the remains of a single ogee headed niche with hollowed spandrels which originally were a pair possibly the remnants of a decorated aumbry. There is a punch dressed border around this niche. Unfortunately recent local restoration to the church and graveyard has obscured the original remains of the church and possible enclosure. Probable remains of a late medieval church contemporary with the nearby tower house (OF024-036002-).

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

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Sites and Monuments Record data: National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Record text is reproduced unchanged. National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland · CC BY 4.0
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