What is recorded here

Indicated is a compact stone gatehouse beside the church of St Michael in County Meath, Ireland. Its narrow east-west passage, hidden west doorway and first-floor openings suggest a watched entrance rather than an ordinary house. The building still points to a time when this place needed guarding, judging who entered and keeping the church separate from the road below.

About 25m SE of the church of St Michael (ME027-038011-) and situated on a SE-facing slope is a gatehouse (ext. dims 5.4m N-S; 5.7m E-W) that has a barrel-vaulted E-W passage (Wth 3.2m) narrowing at the E end. A mural stairs (Wth 0.6m) in the NW pier, which was entered by a lintelled doorway from the outside at W leads to the first floor over the vault, which has large openings on every wall except the N, and there is a fireplace at the SE angle. This gatehouse is attached to a fragment of a wall extending S from the SE angle, although this may be a support for the fireplace at the first floor. Just N of the gatehouse is the corner of a building (ME027-038015-) that is now destroyed. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 27 November, 2014

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.