Church

The National Monuments Service's description

On a steep NW-facing slope in forestry, c. 4m NW of Rian Bó Phádraig (TS091-001----), near a fork in the trackway. The present location is based on a strong local tradition. There are possible traces of a building, including two stones aligned roughly E-W 9m apart, while also in the immediate area are some upright stones and small moss-covered stone piles. In 1984, Holland noted a few courses of dry-stone walling of large uncut sandstone blocks, part of the S wall (H 0.5m; Wth 0.7m); the remainder of the wall being tumbled or overgrown (South Tipperary County Museum Files). The limits of the structure were ascertained to give dimensions of 14m E-W; 6.5m N-S (ibid.). A sandstone pillar with a circular head (H 60cm; diam. 10cm; head diam. 20cm) was found at this location but has since disappeared (ibid.). Power (1908, 19) refers to this as 'Séipéal na nUltach, “The Ulsterman's Chapel”; a small oblong enclosure of dry stone'. Elsewhere, Power (1908, 117) notes that in Co. Waterford, and perhaps Munster generally, Ultach may mean a profesional fortune-teller or 'wise person'.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 25 February 2014

References

Power, P. 1908 Placenames of the Decies. Journal of the Waterford and Southeast of Ireland Archaeological Society 11, 1-34, 45-78, 135-43 and 179-210.