Ecclesiastical enclosure in Portnashangan

Situated at N end of ridge running N-S overlooking Lough Owel 300m to the SW. Ringfort (WM012-087----) 60m to E with another ringfort (WM012-098----) 70m to SW. The ruins of Portnashangan church (WM012-086----) stands in the centre of a circular-shaped graveyard (WM012-086001-) enclosed by an earthen bank and faced with a stone wall of post-1700 appearance. The enclosing earthen bank sits on top of the stone wall suggesting contemporaneity rather than dating from the Early Christian period. Described in 1980 as following; ‘a small subcircular graveyard which is surrounded by a bank with a stone wall built against its outer face. There are a few 19th century headstones in the burial ground. No earthworks visible’ (SMR File 23/10/1980). According to Swan (1988, 10) the segmental form of the graveyard boundary wall suggested the presence of an Early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 20 August 2015