Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a level area on a gentle W-facing slope, 100m to SE lies an earthfast granite bullaun stone (WI042-019005-). A Romanesque church (WI042-019001-) stands in E quadrant of graveyard (WI042-109003-) which was built on the site of the monastery of Achadh-Abhall (Aghowle) founded in the sixth century by St. Finnian (Findian) of Clonard, Co. Meath, whose feastday falls on the 12th of December (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 28; Graves 1883, 72). The Life of Findian of Clonard recalled the legend of how the townland acquired the name Achad Aball. According to this tale; 'Bresal's father, Muiredach, came and gave Findian the field which Bresal had refused him. It was improved by him, and is (called) Achad Aball ('Field of Apple-trees ) to-day. He dwelt sixteen years in that place, serving the Lord of the Elements, till the angel said to him: 'This is not the place of thy resurrection,'saith he: 'howbeit this will be the place of thy meeting with thy monks on Doomsday.' Whence is the name Sliab Condala, that is the mountain of Findian's comdál ('meeting') with his monks on the Day of Judgment' (Stokes 1890, 225). In 1015 the annals recorded death of Cormac Ua Mithidhein, abbot of Aghowle and in 1050 the death of Diarmaid Ua Cele, erenagh of Tullow and Aghowle (AFM).
In the NW quadrant of the graveyard (WI042-019003-) stands St Finden's (Finnian) high cross (WI042-019002-) (Harbison 1992, 10). The graveyard contains a round granite font (WI042-019007-) (Graves 1883, 72-6) with a drain-hole and sides broken away (believed to cure headaches), and a gently tapering, earthfast, granite graveslab (WI042-019008-). An early wedge-shaped cross-slab (WI042-019006-) previously recorded by Crawford (1925, 66) with a Greek cross in a circle on one side and a human face on the other side was not located recently (pers. comm. c. Corlett, 28-04-2011).
The curvilinear nature of the graveyard boundary wall possibly follows the curving boundary of the Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure associated with the monastery founded by St. Finden. The upstanding remains of this ecclesiastical enclosure has been recently described by Corlett (2019) as following; 'The church (WI042-019001-) is a little east of the centre of a large enclosure that is roughly circular and measures 62m across. From the south to the north (i.e. the entire western half) the enclosure consists of an earthen bank averaging 2m wide and 70cm high internally, which has been faced with granite stones externally. The external stone facing is certainly a late feature, but otherwise the bank may represent the original ecclesiastical enclosure. At the north-east the original enclosing element takes the form of a noticeable scarp within the present graveyard enclosure, which includes an enlarged area at this point. Similarly, at the east and south there is a steep scarp defining the original perimeter of the site'.
(Ordnance Survey Letters Wicklow 1838-40, Corlett and Medleycott eds. 2000, 36-45; Graves 1883, 72-85; Owen 1886, 409; Price 1958, 368-9; Harbison 1970, 251; Ó Ríordáin 1978, 30, 39, 43, 44)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Chris Corlett

Date of revision: 12 March 2020

References

Price, L. 1958 The place-names of Co. Wicklow. VI - The barony of Shillelagh. The Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (339-81).

Ó Ríordáin, A. 1978 A list of monuments in Co. Wicklow recommended for preservation. Dublin. An Foras Forbartha Teoranta.

Graves, Rev. A.B. 1883-4 The Damhliag of Achadhabhall. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 16, 72-85.

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.

Crawford, H.S. 1925 A sepulchral slab at Aghowle, Co. Wicklow. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 55, 66.

AFM - Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters from the earliest period to the year 1616, ed. and trans. John O'Donovan (7 vols., Dublin, 1851; reprint New York, 1966)

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Corlett, C. and Medleycott, J. (eds.) 2000 The Ordnance Survey Letters Wicklow. Wicklow. Roundwood & District Historical & Folklore Society.

Corlett, C. 2019 Archaeological Survey of Aghowle Church and Cross, Co. Wicklow. Unpublished National Monuments Survey Report carried out by Chris Corlett, October 2019.

Harbison, P. 1970 (Reprint 1992) Guide to the national monuments in the Republic of Ireland. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan.

Owen, F. 1886 To the Editor of the "Journal R.H.A.A.I.". Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 7, 409.

Stokes, W. 1905 Lives of Saints from the Book of Lismore. Clarendon Press. Oxford.