Grave Yard

In undulating countryside 140m W of the River Barrow. Site of Castle (LA026-009001-) 165m to NNW, St Thomas's Well (LA026-009002-) 90m to N. Site of Castle (LA026-010----) 500m to S. Tankardstown church and castle described in the History of the Queens Count as 'An old castle (LA026-009001-) and a church (LA026-009004-), with some ruined houses, are marked in Tankardstown Parish, on Sir William Petty's Maps. Within the large townland of Tankardstown, Queen's County, on the west side of the River Barrow, are to be seen the old church, at present in ruins, and within a graveyard. Near it is St. Thomas' Well (LA026-009002-). On the north side of it the site of a castle is to be found while about one quarter of a mile to the south, the site of another castle (LA026-010----) may be traced; both of these former erections seem to have been intended to command the passage over the River Barrow' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 336). Rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 30m N-S; 47m E-W) enclosed by a stone wall as indicated on current ed OS 6-inch map. Church ruins in centre of graveyard. Two 17th century headstones located in E quadrant of graveyard, E of medieval church ruins. Outline of church and graveyard standing beside the River Barrow clearly visible on oblique aerial photograph taken 14/07/1970 (CUCAP BDH061). See attached plan of graveyard courtesy of Michael Donovan, Athy Cemeteries Committee and CUCAP aerial photograph 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. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 4 October 2022