Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Cogan (1870, 569) the abbey of Foyran, anciently called Faebhrom, or Faobhran, was founded most probably in the sixth century. The Four Masters record at A.D. 754, ‘Eochaidh, Abbot of Faebhran, died’. In 1870 Cogan described the site as the ‘old church (WM001-042----) of Foyran, long since in ruin, stands at the foot of a hill in the heart of a wild lonely country. In the neighbourood of the church is a holy well called Tober-Aidan (WM001-043----), in memory of St. Aidus, or Hugh, the founder, or patron saint. In the Martyrology of Donegal, the festival of St. Aedh, son of Brec, of Foibren, is marked at the 1st of November. According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 385) a monastery was founded here by St. Edan (Aodh). Ó Riain (2011, 65) recorded that Aodh of Foyran (Faoibhréan) known locally as Aodhán (Edan) was the son of Raoi, whose feastday was celebrated on the 1st of November and is almost certainly the same as Aodh [Hugh] of Rahugh monastery (WM038-041----).
The curve in the field fences to the NE and NW of the graveyard (WM001-042001-) possibly indicates the presence of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (Swan 1988, 21).

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 12 October 2015

References

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

Swan, D.L. 1988 The Early Christian ecclesiastical sites of County Westmeath. In J. Bradley (ed.), Settlement and society in Medieval Ireland: studies presented to F.X. Martin O.S.A., 1-31. Kilkenny. Boethius Press.

Cogan, Rev. A. 1862-70 Ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Meath: ancient and modern. (3 vols) Dublin: John Fowler, Joseph Dollard

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

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