Kilmanoge church (Site of) , Graveyard

Located on top of an esker ridge with an impressive motte (OF026-031----) to the S. Poorly preserved ruins of a small rectangular church with only the NE portion of the church surviving with a later graveyard (OF026-022002-) wall attached to the W end of the N wall and the S end of the E wall. The graveyard wall is built with rubble from the church. The church itself was constructed from large irregular shaped boulders which may indicate an early medieval date. The walls of the church are approx. 1m thick with the N wall surviving for a distance of 5.7m and the E wall surviving for a distance of 4.9m. There is evidence of a blocked up window on the N wall. The land around the church was recently planted in forestry. No graveslabs visible in the graveyard. Very small graveyard which incorporates the E section of the N wall (L c. 9.5m, H 2m) and N end of E wall (L 5.8m, H 2.3m, T 0.9m) of the church. Remains of splayed window in N wall. Walls of church are built with rubble masonry and could be of an early medieval date. 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. Date of upload: 23 May 2011