Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

In grassland on NE facing slope of rising ground with good views to N and E. Poorly preserved remains of large roughly oval-shaped enclosure (dims. 100m N-S; 120m E-W) defined by an earthen bank mainly reduced to a scarp (H 0.6m) and outer fosse which is only visible on N side only, elsewhere it has been filled in. Depicted as a Grave Yard on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map. Two fragments of early Christian cross-slabs (WM036-042002-/007-) standing in group of trees containing bullaun stone (WM036-042003-) known as St. Patrick's knee stone in N quadrant of ecclesiastical enclosure. The interior of the enclosure is depicted as a graveyard (WM036-042006-) on the OS 6-inch map and local tradition records that this graveyard was also used as a children's burial ground (WM036-042008-). Site of holy well (WM036-042005-) dedicated to St. Patrick 290m to W. Large tree standing in SE quadrant of enclosure contains a some upright stones of unknown antiquity. There are the faintest traces of a smaller enclosure encircling this tree which may mark the site of the children's burial ground (WM032-042008-) (Swan 1988, 11).

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 08 August 2014

References

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.