Inscribed stone

The National Monuments Service's description

These inscribed stones are built into the fabric of the S wall of St Conlan's medieval parish church (TN014-045001-). Situated on the crest of a hill. A largely destroyed church (TN014-045001-) constructed of roughly coursed limestone blocks. The S wall is best preserved, though the W end is gone. The external E end of the S wall is rendered with concrete with a gap to expose a round-headed single-light with external chamfer and splayed ingoings. On the E side of this window embrasure there is an incised cross pattée and soul-effigy in a naïve style. A similar cross is carved in relief on the external face of the S wall of the church. At the W end of the S wall c. 2m above the external ground level a carved stone head (L 0.24m) protrudes from the wall - the hair is about ear length, the bulging eyes are near the top of the head, there is no nose, a long neck and a chin outlined by a curving groove. Beneath this head are three rectangular blocks of stone, one above two. The upper-most block has an incised inscription which reads 'ST. COE[ ]' and underneath this 'NE 433'. The lower W block has a cross pattée and the E block has two angels as mentioned above.
In 1837 the church remains were described as ‘the ruins of an oratory, supposed to have been a place of worship of the O’Brien family; and on a part of the well of the old church is the figure of a head, with the inscription “St. Coonna, 434.” A well near it is called St. Coulan’s [TN014-044001-]’ (Lewis 1837, 730).

To see a 3D model of this stone head, visit; https://skfb.ly/oxG8K

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.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 5 September 2022

References

Farrelly, J. and O'Brien, C. 2002 Archaeological inventory of County Tipperary, vol. 1, North Tipperary. Dublin. Stationery Office.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.