Burial Ground in Clonenagh, graveyard (LA017-003007-)

Clonenagh meaning the Ivy meadow was a monastery founded by St. Fintan around 548 (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 291). His feast day was celebrated on the 17th of February (Comerford 1883-86, vol. 3, 291). St Fintans Well (LA017-003003-) and Holy Tree (LA017-003004-) located to the S of the graveyard. Low motte or possible ringwork (LA017-003009-) located across the road to the S . A second burial ground with possible church site (LA017-003023) that was known in the 19th century as St Bridget's graveyard (LA017-003008-) is located across the road to the S with a second graveyard (LA017-003002-) and church (LA017-003001-) located across the main road to the S. Archdall writing in 1786 states that 'Clonenagh is now a Parish Church of the Diocese of Leighlin. The adjoining graveyard (LA017-003002-) is used as a place of interment chiefly of Protestants; on the opposite side of the road is another cemetery in which Catholics are exclusively interred' (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 298). Reference to monastery (L. c. 40 feet, W c. 18 ft. T.C. 3 ft) here (O'Byrne 1856, 55, 56). In an elevated area within graveyard. Graveyard contains fourteen inscribed early Christian cross-slabs and numerous uninscribed grave markers, and a chevron decorated sandstone voussoir from a Romanesque church. All of these have been placed against the inner face of the W wall of the graveyard. Roughly rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 51m N-S; 46m E-W) enclosed by a stone wall containing post 1700 AD memorials.