Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeChurch
- Date or period mentioned6th-century
- Condition (as surveyed)Gone: no visible trace
What to look for
- Graveyard
- Holy well nearby
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
In an upland river valley at the E end of a low ridge overlooking a steep river valley immediately to E and N, with a later medieval church (KK015-030004-) and graveyard (KK015-030005-) 85m and 44m respectively to W of this church. There is a holy well, known as St. Scoheen's Well (KK015-030006-), approx. 60m W of the church and graveyard (KK015-030002-).
Full archaeological record 160 words
In an upland river valley at the E end of a low ridge overlooking a steep river valley immediately to E and N, with a later medieval church (KK015-030004-) and graveyard (KK015-030005-) 85m and 44m respectively to W of this church. There is a holy well, known as St. Scoheen's Well (KK015-030006-), approx. 60m W of the church and graveyard (KK015-030002-). There is no visible trace of this early medieval church at ground level. It was located in the SW quadrant of a small square-shaped graveyard. The church is marked as 'Tiscoffin Church (Site of)' on the 1900 ed. OS 6" map which is derived from the Irish Tigh Scoithin. St. Scoithin was a 6th-century monk who established a hermitage here during this period. According to local tradition the enclosure was the burial ground of seven bishops, all septuplet brothers (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 361)). A cross-inscribed slab (KK015-030008-) was discovered in 1950 lying along the bank of the graveyard(KK015-030002-).
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 7 March 2016. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
According to local tradition the enclosure was the burial ground of seven bishops, all septuplet brothers (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 361)).
More ancient churches nearby

Churchclara Church
Church · Churchclara · Kilkenny · 3.6 km away

Rathcoole Church
Church · Carrigeen (Gowran By.) · Kilkenny · 4.9 km away

Kylebeg Church
Church · Blanchvillestown · Kilkenny · 5.8 km away

Saint Martin's Church
Church · Templemartin (Gowran By., Clara Ed) · Kilkenny · 5.9 km away
Visitor site National MonumentSt. Mary's Church, Gowran
Church · Gowran · Kilkenny · 6.9 km away

Kilmalog Church
Church · Purcellsinch · Kilkenny · 7.6 km away
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Freneystown CastleCastle - tower house · Freneystown · 0.5 km · official record
Visitors' notes
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Around Freneystown Church (site of)
Other heritage nearby
- Saint Scoheen's WellHoly well · 0.1 km
- Castlewarren CastleCastle · 2.4 km
- Tobar NeaskaHoly well · 2.5 km
- Moonhall CastleCastle · 2.7 km
- Clara CastleCastle · 2.8 km
- Saint Colman's WellHoly well · 3.6 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 9 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 8 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 5 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Nore Valley Walk - Kilkenny to Bennetsbridge SectionLong Distance Waymarked Way · 8.2 km · nearest point 7.5 km
- South Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 43.2 km · nearest point 7.6 km
- North Kilkenny Cycle LoopRoad Cycling Trail · 24.0 km · nearest point 8.7 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- JenkinstownForests · 13 km
- Coill an FhaltaighForests · 15 km
- GowranWalled towns · 6.8 km
- Old LeighlinWalled towns · 8.7 km
Other attractions nearby
- Hawkeye School of FalconryNature and Wildlife · 6.7 km
- St Mary's Church GowranHistoric Houses and Castle · 6.9 km
- Hurling Tours IrelandAttraction · 8.5 km
- St Laserian's CathedralAbbeys and Monastery · 8.6 km
What's on nearby
- Pa Sheehy The Magic We Found Tour2026-11-05 · 9.8 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-06 · 9.3 km
- Kilkenomics2026-11-07 · 9.3 km

