Church in Park (stradbally By.)

Unlocated church within townland that is described by Carrigan as 'In the large ten acre field, called the 'old meadow', in Rathmore, there is a considerable tract of rich grass-land, slightly elevated, on which an obsolete graveyard is pointed out. The exact site is at the south-east corner of the rising ground, beside the fence. The church disappeared ages ago, and the graveyard has no headstones nor appearance of graves. A little to the west of the graveyard is part of a deep circular fosse, filled with water. Apparently the graveyard with the rest of the rising ground, in all from two to three acres, was enclosed by a rampart and fosse now almost entirely levelled. This must have been the Rath-Mor, or great rath, that gave the name to the townland' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 141). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

A local church or high cross; wider significance not recorded.