What is recorded here

Bellhill in County Offaly preserves a fifth-century foundation attributed to St Kieran the Elder, later shaped into a double-banked monastic enclosure with a motte, a ruined church, and a possible souterrain. By 1568 the priory had shrunk to a thatched stone house, a small tower, six cottages at Shyre, and barely an acre of land, yet a gun turret may still have been added as turbulence reached even this quiet midlands place. What began as worship became defence, then decay, then a parish church pressed from ruined priory rooms, leaving behind earthworks that sound more like ramparts than prayer.

Unlocated deserted medieval settlement possible that is described as a village in the townland of Barrysbrook, Clonin and Coolcor c. 1550 (Byrne and Scully n.d. 15-17). 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

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