What is recorded here

Monasteroris is a flat-topped mound rising four metres from the Offaly plain, crowned by the broken stones of a late medieval pigeon house. The structure measured eight by eight metres when last standing tall enough for people to remember its purpose. It probably fed the nearby monastery, turning flying creatures into sustained life for people who prayed, worked and waited out storms. The mound still holds that older shape, preserving the difference between a empty field and a place where human hands repeated their work across generations.

Low mound (OF011-010001-) with remains of stone building (max. dims. 8.4m N-S, 8m E-W) on top marked as pigeon house. Bank with mainly stone in it surrounds base of mound and appears mostly as a berm. The building on top could be a late medieval pigeon house. Extensive earthworks to E of site. Located on flat land with good views in all directions. Flat topped mound (H 4m; base diam 24.5m; top diam 4m) with enclosing berm visible at base of mound on S side only. On top of the mound there are the poorly preserved remains of a building marked on the OS 6-inch map as 'Pigeon House' probably associated with the nearby monastery (OF011-009001-). 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

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.