Ecclesiastical enclosure in Emly

In the 5th century a monastery was founded at Emly by St. Ailbe. In 1058 the Annals of the Four Masters record that the daimhliag or great stone church and the cloictheach or round tower and belfry of Emly were burnt (Barrow 1979, 190). The monastery at Emly was surrounded by a circular enclosure centering on the main ecclesiastical elements. The outline of this enclosure is preserved today in the road and field pattern S of the present catholic church. The line of the enclosure commences at the road junction in Emly, where the road curves from NW through to SW, a field boundary, meeting the road at the SW, continues the circle to the NW. The western half of this enclosure is not immediately apparent but the river may have acted as the enclosing element on this side and there is no surface remains of the enclosure to the N and E of the town.

In the 5th century a monastery was founded at Emly by St. Ailbe. In 1058 the Annals of the Four Masters record that the daimhliag or great stone church and the cloictheach or round tower and belfry of Emly were burnt (Barrow 1979, 190). The monastery at Emly was surrounded by a circular enclosure centering on the main ecclesiastical elements. The outline of this enclosure is preserved today in the road and field…