Church (in Ruins), Grave Yd.

Situated on an E-facing slope of rising ground in an upland area with a nearby holy well site (TN034-012) to the W. Founded by St Culan in the seventh century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 385). The bell shrine of St Culan, a twelfth-century reliquary, was found in a nearby hollow tree (Cooke 1822, 33-9) close to the site of the holy well. The poorly preserved remains of a nave and chancel church (int. dims 7.9m N-S;16.65m E-W; wall T 0.8m), the chancel of which is totally destroyed, with partial remains of the N and S walls and the W gable fully intact. The walls are ivy-covered obscuring any architectural features present. Impressive angle buttressing (wall T 1.9m) supports the W gable. An armorial plaque and graveslab (TN034-013004) dedicated to Walter Burke of Illeigh erected in 1626 by Patrick Kerin (White 1892, 33) is inserted into the E end of the N wall of the nave. The church is described in the OS Letters as a nave (dims. 53ft (16.16m) E-W; 26 ft (7.93m) N-S) and chancel (dims. 31ft 6in (9.65m) E-W; 16ft 6in (5m) N-S) church with partial remains of chancel arch and the E gable surviving with a twin-light window (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 188-9). An old mill (TN034-013002) was discovered in 1821 near the church. Church located on top of high ground in centre of large graveyard (TN034-013003) enclosed by a 19th century wall. Memorials of 18th and 19th century date contained within graveyard. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

The church at Glenkeen was founded by St. Culan in the seventh century and is associated with a nearby holy well. Its location and early dedication suggest it was an important early Christian site in the upland region.