Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Immediately E of the main road through the town. The Ara River flows due SE to the N. The church is mentioned in 14th century Papal Taxation records (Marnane, D.G. 2003, 150, 168). The church, being in the parish of Templeneiry, is referred to in the Civil Survey (1654-6) 'The sd. Gleabland is lying and beinge in the Towne of Tampleneyry neare the Church thereof, and is fenced about with a ditch' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 366). The presence of two Early Christian slabs (TS067-064002-) on the N side of the graveyard and another (TS067-064003-) on the S side of the graveyard, together with the raised, circular topography of the graveyard, suggest there was an Early Christian foundation at this location. There was also a medieval church here which may have continued in use up to the 17th century as a Butler graveslab (TS067-064004--) of that date had been identified (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 12). However, there are no visible remains of a church in the graveyard earlier than the present disused 18th/19th-century church.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

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

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. Bray.