Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on top of a natural rise of ground in undulating countryside with extensive views. Toberdima holy well (TN005-007001-) and St. Dima's Stone (TN005-007002-) located 100m to E. Site of Pallas Castle (TN005-006001-) and watermill (TN005-004----) 100m to SW. The present remains consist of the ruins of Pallas Church (TN005-005001-) and graveyard (TN005-005003-) standing in the W quadrant of a possible early Christian monastic enclosure visible from N through E to SSW, with the Pallas River forming the enclosing element from SSW-W-NNW. This D-shaped enclosure with straight side L. 208m) at W is depicted as the boundary of Pallas Church Glebe lands on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Present remains consist of an earthen bank which defines the ecclesiastical enclosure (approx. dims. 190m N-S; 130m E-W) forming a semicircular arc visible from N through E to SSW with a steep river ravine forming the boundary elsewhere. In the Civil Survey of Tipperary 1654-6 (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 320) the enclosure is referred to as a ditch which encloses an area of three acres comprising the glebe lands of the medieval church. This glebe boundary which is shown on the 17th century Down Survey parish map (NLI, MS. 721) may follow the line of an early Christian monastic enclosure associated with St. Dima. Outline of enclosure clearly visible today on OSi orthophotos and on recent Google Earth orthoimages. An annexe or second conjoined enclosure (approx. diam. 140m) is visible to NE of monastic enclosure on Google Earth orthophoto taken 08/04/2020.

The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). 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 upload/revision: 12 October 2020

References

NLI, MS 721 – National Library of Ireland , The parish maps of the Down Survey of County Tipperary, attested by Wm. Petty in 1657. Copied by Daniel O'Brien. A set of 67 maps with accompanying terriers, 1786-7. Dublin.

Hibernia Regnum: A set of 214 barony maps of Ireland dating to the period AD 1655-59. The original parish maps have been lost but the Hibernia Regnum maps are preserved in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris (Goblet 1932, v-x). Photographic facsimiles of these maps were published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton in 1908.

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1934 The Civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. II: county of Tipperary - Western and Northern baronies. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.