Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on top of rise of ground in undulating countryside with motte and bailey castle (WM003-037----) 50m to E. Medieval church ruins (WM003-038----) stands in centre of graveyard which contains memorials of post-medieval date. Graveyard depicted as an oval shaped area on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map and as an irregular shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 45m N-S; 50m E-W) on subsequent editions of the OS maps. Present remains consist of an irregular shaped area enclosed by a stone wall of post medieval date with entrance gate and stile at E facing onto public road. The enclosing boundary wall incorporates cut stone fragments of the medieval church which are visible in the external facing of the graveyard wall. The curvilinear shape of the graveyard wall along the S and W sides possibly indicates the presence of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (WM003-038002-) (Swan 1988, 21). A chamfered window sill from the medieval church has been reused as gravemarker in the SW quadrant of the graveyard. According to Cogan (1867, 409) the Reverend Walter Murtagh who was appointed to Castlepollard in 1846 was responsible for the building of the graveyard wall at Lickbla and Foyran (WM001-042001-) in order ‘to prevent desecration of the dead’.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 18 August 2015

References

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

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.