What is recorded here

Ballynakill is a small medieval church ruin set inside a square graveyard on a slight rise, with faint earthworks outside the wall that may mark an old field system. The ruined west wall and north-east angle still stand while Ballinrath Castle and Ballykilleen ringfort watch from nearby, suggesting a busy landscape of worship, farming and memory. People may have lived around this place long before the church became a ruin, shaping the same ground with hands and patience.

Located on a slight rise of ground with good views in all directions. Ballinrath Castle (OF011-032----) located 590m to WSW and Ballykilleen ringfort (OF011-035001-) 950m to E. Only the W wall and NW angle now remain upstanding of this medieval church (OF011-034001-) standing in the centre of a roughly square-shaped graveyard (OF011-034002-). Earthworks (OF011-034003-) outside the graveyard (OF011-034002-) wall were described in 1977 as 'some low banks & scarps indicate the remains of enclosures outside the graveyard' (SMR file 1977). These earthworks or enclosures may represent the remains of an old field system. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 24 July 2014

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