Ecclesiastical site

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked as the 'site of Augustinian Friary' on the 1839 and 1940 eds of the OS 6-inch map. There is a tradition that St Autsitn's House, a two storey over basement house, was built in 1763 on the site of a church founded by an Irish saint - Augustin. This is unsubtantiated and the name became confused with St. Augustine of Hippo and hence the Order of St. Augustine (Ua Dubhghaill 1925, 89). The tradition dates at least from the 18th century (Lewis 1837, vol. 2, 15). There is no visible evidence of an antiquity at ground level, although a stone mortar recovered in ploughing is kept at a nearby house. Archaeological testing immediately to the NE failed to produce any related material (Ó Drisceoil 2011).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 10 May 2012

References

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Ua Dubhghaill, S. 1925 List of ancient churches, graveyards, castles, wells, etc. The Past, vol. 3, 86-99.

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2011 Coolgreany Demesne. No arhcaeological significance. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2008. summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 372, No. 1275. Wordwell, Dublin