Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeEcclesiastical enclosure
- Date or period mentioned6th century
- StatusNational Monument
What to look for
- Tower
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
On a natural rise in gently undulating terrain with marshy flood plain of the River Goul to the N and W. An early medieval monastery, of which the round tower (KK008-047004-) survives, was founded here, probably by St Ciarán of Sir in the 6th century (Harbison 1992, 198). The monastery would have been defined by a large circular or sub-circular enclosure, or more than one concentric enclosures.
Full archaeological record 76 words
On a natural rise in gently undulating terrain with marshy flood plain of the River Goul to the N and W. An early medieval monastery, of which the round tower (KK008-047004-) survives, was founded here, probably by St Ciarán of Sir in the 6th century (Harbison 1992, 198). The monastery would have been defined by a large circular or sub-circular enclosure, or more than one concentric enclosures. The precise location of the enclosing elements are unknown.
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Jean Farrelly · Updated 2 October 2018. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
Folklore and traditions
More monastic sites nearby
Also recorded nearby
Named sites within 5 km with only a short entry in the Archaeological Survey.
- Priest's WellRitual site - holy well · Baunballinlough · 3.1 km · official record
At the edge of a valley floor, in rolling pasture. This is indicated on a Grand Jury Map as a holy well. When inspected in 1987 the well was in use as cattle pump and was capped with concrete.
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Around Grangefertagh
Other heritage nearby
- Grangefertagh Priory ChurchAbbey or friary · 0.0 km
- Grangefertagh Round TowerRound tower · 0.0 km
- Grangefertagh castleCastle · 0.7 km
- White ChurchAncient church · 1.1 km
- Glashare CastleCastle · 2.1 km
- Glashare ChurchAncient church · 2.1 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 52 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 7 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 4 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 abbeys & friariesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 standing stoneArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 megalithic tombArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 hillfortArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Gathabawn LoopWalking Trail · 11.3 km · nearest point 4.5 km
- Gathabawn Short LoopWalking Trail · 4.1 km · nearest point 4.6 km
- Cullahill - Heathy Way Loop WalkWalking Trail · 6.4 km · nearest point 5.3 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- CapponellanForests · 10 km
- Dunmore WoodForests · 14 km
- Coolacurragh Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 9.8 km
- Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature ReserveNature reserves · 11 km
- Clomanatagh CastleHistoric stays · 7.1 km
Other attractions nearby
- Donaghmore Famine Workhouse MuseumHistoric Houses and Castle · 12 km
Excavations nearby
- E2393 Rathlogan AR 51-2, County KilkennyRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 0.6 km
- E2394 Glashare AR 55-57, County LaoisRoad-scheme excavation report (TII) · 1.9 km