Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Early Christian monastery 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 (OF041-004002-) with ‘Disert Chuimin’ which was located close to the borders of Leinster and Munster (Herity 2008, 182). 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 (OF041-004006-) close to the ruins of Kilcommon church (OF041-004----)’ (Cooke 1875, 213).
Situated on a natural rise of ground overlooking river to the E. Located in the centre of the graveyard are the poorly preserved remains of a rectangular church (OF041-004----). Three large grass covered flagstones in the W sector of the graveyard (OF041-004002-) are marked on the OS 6-inch map as 'St. Cuimin's Seat' (OF041-004004-). Early Christian cross inscribed slab (OF041-004006-) located near SE corner of graveyard. Field boundaries enclosing the site on the S side of the monastery may preserve the line of the Early Christian enclosure around the monastery of Kilcomin. The remains of curving field boundaries to SW and E of church (OF041-004----) and graveyard (OF041-004002-) visible on Bing Maps aerial photograph taken between November 2011-May 2012 may be the remains of a possible large monastic enclosure (diam. c. 660m) (see attached image taken from Bing Maps). An alternative smaller encosure can be identified on Google Earth aerial photographs taken on 30th November 2009 which indicate a possible enclosure measuring c. 320m in diameter (see attached image OF041-004001-_02.jpg). Cropmarks visible on GSI aerial photographs (S. 538/7) taken in June 1973 indicate the possible remains of a smaller inner monastic enclosure (diam. c. 240m) at Kilcomin inside the larger enclosure (SMR File).

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 by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 12 June 2014

References

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

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

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

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).