What is recorded here

Lemanaghan is a monastic complex where a seventh century monastery emerged under the patronage of Manchán, whose memory still returns each January. The medieval font survived the collapse of the church and now stands inside a disused schoolhouse, carrying water from a world where children learned to read instead of praying. That change is not loss but continuation. The same stone still marks the boundary between the known and the invisible, only the room around it has changed.

A monastery at Lemanaghan (Liath Manchán) was founded in the 7th century by Manchán whose feastday is celebrated on the 24th of January (Ó Riain 2011, 429). Remains of medieval font from Lemanaghan church (OF015-004003-) currently located inside the disused Lemanaghan schoolhouse. The font is part of an archaeological complex consisting of an ecclesiastical enclosure (OF015-004008-),a tower house (OF015-004001-), church (OF015-004003-), several early christian cross-slabs (OF015-004005-/032-) and architectural fragments in the interior of the church. To the NW there is a rectangular building (OF015-004009-) possibly of late medieval date. Possible oratory or hermitage (OF015-004006-) and togher (OF015-004011) located to the SE of the church. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 April 2014

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