What is recorded here

Killabban Church stands in ruins where St. Abban founded a worship place in 650, anchoring a borough that paid sixty shillings yearly by 1348. The Earl of Kildare defended the settlement against the O'Mordha of Slemargy around 1358, but the community faded before the century closed. Conifers now crowd the field where the motte and scattered homes once sat, hiding the shape of a life that stopped depending on itself.

St. Abban founded a church here in 650 (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 247-249).The burgeses of Killabban gave 60s. yearly for their burgage in 1348. Killabban was defended by The Earl of Kildare in wars against the O'Mordha of Slemargy around 1358. The Borough declined in the late fourteenth century. (Bradley et. al. 1986, 37-8). In undulating countryside. Site of deserted medieval borough most likely to have been in the field connecting the church(LA026-013001-) with the motte (LA026-013003-). No earthworks survive, however, and it is possible that the site was a dispersed borough (Bradley et. al. 1986, 37). At time of survey this field was used for grazing. The motte, was removed by the landowner as part of land clearance in March 1986. This land between the motte and the church is now planted with coniferous trees. 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. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

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