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According to Gwynn and Hadcock (1970, 380), this is 'Domhnach-mor-maige-luadat' ("the great church of Nuadhat's plain (Maynooth)") where St Erc, a disciple of the 6th century St Senan, was bishop, and the 'Donagh' (Domhnach) element in the townland name does suggest a possible Patrician foundation. In open, gently undulating pasture immediately S of Carton Demesne, and separated from it by the Royal Canal, a railway line and road. A very poorly preserved large, roughly circular, outer enclosure (est. diam. c. 130m) is defined by a low, earthen bank (Wth 5m; H 0.25m) NE-E-S, with traces of an external fosse (Wth 7m; D 0.6m) between E and S. The enclosing elements stop at S where the site is approached and entered by an apparently contemporary, embanked roadway (Wth 6-7m; traceable ext. L 52m N-S) defined on each side by an earthen bank (Wth 3.5m; H 0.4m) which widens (Wth 8.5m) just inside the outer enclosure and runs towards to a central area (int L 28m N-S) occupied by a roughly oval-shaped graveyard (KD006-005004-) which is the original location of an ogham stone (KD006-005002-) and which contains a medieval church (KD006-005002-), and which may overlie the site of an original inner enclosure (est. diams c. 60m NW-SE; c. 45m NE-SW). There is no obvious visible surface trace of an outer enclosing element from S-W-NE, but traces may survive under the railway embankment between N and NE. The SE sector of the interior is sub-divided by a low earthen bank (Wth 4m; H 0.5m; L 36.5m NW-SE)) running between the two enclosures (CUCAP ATA028, 1967; AYR049/050, 1969; Killanin and Duignan 1967, 372).
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 10 June 2011
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