Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on the SE-facing slope of a hill with a nearby river to the SE. Depicted on the 1st ed. (1843) OS 6-inch map as a large D-shaped enclosure which appears to have been somewhat modified to conform to the existing field pattern. The present remains consist of a D-shaped area (dims. 116m NE-SW; 100m NW-SE) defined by an earth and stone bank (Wth 1.5m; int. H 0.76; ext. H 0.37m). At E the bank curves out beyond the stone wall field boundary. A wide gap in the SW quadrant appears to be a modern insertion. The interior slopes to the SE and has a number of low terraces, partially natural though also probably resulting from quarrying activity. Rock outcrop is very close to surface. In the interior there is a ruinous stone wall (Wall T 1m; int. H 0.62m; ext. H 0.5m; L 11.8m E-W) with a SW angle return. According to the landowner there is a local tradition that this was a church (TN041-028001). He also mentioned that approximately ten pieces of iron slag were found in the interior of the site. The size of the site and the local tradition suggest that this could be an ecclesiastical enclosure.

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.

Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008