Timahoe Church
Photo: Andreas F. Borchert · CC BY-SA 4.0
Church

Timahoe Church

Eaglais Thigh Mochua

Church in Timahoe, Co. Laois.

  • AccessNot confirmed
  • National MonumentIn State care
  • DateNot stated
  • FolkloreNone recorded
  • PhotoWikimedia Commons
Timahoe, Co. Laois52.96054, -7.20345
Directions Map

Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer

At a glance

  • TypeChurch
  • StatusNational Monument

What to look for

  • Nave and chancel
  • Graveyard

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
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History and description

National Monument No. 114. A church was founded at Timahoe (Teach Mochua) by St. Mochua who died in 657 (Crawford 1924, 31).

Full archaeological record 159 words

National Monument No. 114. A church was founded at Timahoe (Teach Mochua) by St. Mochua who died in 657 (Crawford 1924, 31). The saint's feastday is commemorated on the 24th of December (Ó Riain 2011, 469). Round tower (LA018-031005-), castle (LA018-031006-) and graveyard (LA018-031003-) are all that remains of the monastery of Timahoe. Reference to the Penitentiary or Oratory of Tech-Mochua here where in 1096. Gilmurry McDuff the Chief of Hy-Crimhthannan, was killed by Magrath O'More. (O'Hanlon and O'Leary, 1907, vol. 1, 375). The fifteenth century church, to SE of tower, was transformed in the sixteenth century into a tower house (LA018-031006-) (Harbison 1970, 141), probably by one of the Cosbys. The only surviving feature of this church is a large arch (Wth 3.95m), possibly the chancel arch, which was blocked up and incorporated into the E wall of the castle. It is composed of punch-dressed chamfered limestone with evidence of diagonal tooling (Petrie 1845, 234-43; Crawford 1924, 31-42).

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 17 December 2007 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Laois. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

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      Around Timahoe Church

      Other heritage nearby

      Recorded within 5 km

      Walks and trails

      • Oughaval Woods - Mass Rock WalkWalking Trail · 2.9 km · nearest point 6.8 km
      • Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle WalkWalking Trail · 6.0 km · nearest point 6.8 km
      • Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Tir na nÓgWalking Trail · 0.9 km · nearest point 6.8 km

      Outdoors, towns and places to stay

      • OughavalForests · 7.0 km
      • Timahoe Esker Nature ReserveNature reserves · 1.9 km
      • PortlaoiseWalled towns · 10 km
      • Roundwood HouseHistoric stays · 23 km

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