Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Early Christian monastery (OF041-004001-) founded by St Cuimín in the seventh century (Cooke 1875, 209-14). Kilcomin [Ceall Chuimín/Cill Chuimín/church of Cuimín] named after Cuimín Fada [long] a seventh century saint who was born in the territory of Caoille Conaill, located between Rathfran bay and Lacken Bay, in the barony of Tirawley, Co. Mayo where his family operated a school (Ó Riain 2011, 245). The Ordnance Survey Letters of 1838 identified Kilcommon old churchyard with ‘Disert Chuimin’ which was located close to the borders of Leinster and Munster (Herity 2008, 182). In 1449 there is a reference to the rectory of Kilcomin [Chilcomin] (Gleeson and Costello 1943, 87). In 1875 Cooke (1875, 213) recorded that the ancient bell of St Cuimín now located in the British Museum was preserved in the parish of Kilcomin ‘up to thirty or forty years ago’. According to local tradition the ancient bell was found in a ‘well (OF041-004003-) close to the ruins of Kilcommon church’ (Cooke 1875, 213).
Annotated 'Abbey' on 1838 ed. OSi 6-inch map where it is shown standing to the W of a mill-pond and mill-race with Flour Mill 250m to N. Ruins of post-1700 Roman Catholic Chapel shown standing beside the mill race 40m to the NE of the Abbey ruins. Medieval church ruins depicted on the 17th century Down Survey map of Kilcomin Parish (NLI, MS 716). On this map a medieval watermill (OF041-005----) is depicted standing on the W bank of the stream running through Kilcomin a short distance to the SE of the church. In 1641 the church and watermill stood on lands belonging to the Irish Papist, Charles Carroll.
Church ruins situated on a natural rise of ground overlooking river to the E. Located in the centre of the graveyard (OF041-004002-) are the poorly preserved remains of a rectangular church (ext. dims. 6.8m N-S; 20.2m E-W; wall T 0.8m) with a barrel vaulted chamber at W end and transept (8.1m N-S; 7m E-W) off the E end of the S wall. The transept has a slight base batter evident with a simple widely splayed rectangular window with finely punch dressed jambs. Wall niche at W end of S wall. The priests residence consists of a N-S barrel vault over the W end of the church. Otherwise the church is featureless. Only the S wall and its returns survive of the transept, with only a portion of the S wall of the church and W end with its barrel vault survives. Elsewhere the outline of the church is indicated by grass covered wall footings. Three large grass covered flagstones in the W sector of the graveyard are marked on the OS 6-inch map as 'St. Cuimin's Seat' (OF041-004004-). Early Christian cross inscribed slab (OF041-004006-) located close to SE corner of graveyard.
Testing was carried out by Brian Hodkinson under licence No. 99E0482, no archaeological features were identified.
Monitoring under licence no. 02E1762 was required as part of the planning permission for the retention and extension of a dwelling-house. The development was near the Early Christian enclosure of Kilcomin (OF041-004001-). No features or finds of archaeological significance were revealed.
John Purcell, Ballinvalley, Killeigh, Co. Offaly.

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: 6 October 2022

References

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

NLI, MS 716 - National Library of Ireland, The parish maps of the Down Survey, of Offaly attested by W. Petty, in 1657. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 33 maps with accompanying terriers in two volumes, 1786-7. Dublin.

Gleeson, D.F. and Costello, M.A. (eds.) 1943 Obligationes pro Annatis Diocesis Laoniensis 1421-1535. Archivium Hibernicum 10, 1-103.

Herity, M. (ed.) 2008 Ordnance Survey Letters Offaly. Dublin. Four Masters Press.

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