Ecclesiastical enclosure in Kyle (clandonagh By.)

In undulating countryside. St. Molua founded a monastery at Kyle in the late sixth or early seventh century, kyle is now known as Clonfert-Molua or Cluain Ferta Moula - the meadow of the grave. D-shaped graveyard (dims. 82.3m E-W x 38.15m N-S) enclosed by a boundary wall of roughly coursed limestone rubble (H 1.4m ; T 0.9m) some of which is built with medieval cut stone and punch dressed stone from church (LA015-023001-). Also incorporated into the graveyard wall are stones with roll moulding and one stone decorated with a chevron suggesting it came from a romanesque church (Fitzpatrick 1993, 5). The graveyard wall may follow the line of an early Christian enclosure. Remains of a possible eccelsiastical enclosure lie c. 200m to SE of church (LA015-023001-) and graveyard (LA015-023002-). 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 D-shaped ecclesiastical enclosure associated with St. Molua, who founded a monastery at Kyle (Clonfert-Molua) in the late sixth or early seventh century. The site is linked to early Christian settlement and is located in an area rich with monastic and fairy tradition, though specific folklore about the fort itself is not recorded.