Earthwork in Killaloe

Under the heading, ‘Ancient Monastery’, Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 440) notes that, ‘Tradition points to a field of Mr. Daniel Maher’s in Killaloe, close to the old churchyard [KK022-018002-], as the site of an ancient monastery. This field was known as Paurk-Philop, or Philip’s Field, till 1839, when the Ordnance Survey Commissioners gave it the new name of Awrdhawns, because they found the surface of the field, to the extent of two acres, covered over with little hillocks and mounds, the remains of the early monastic establishment that stood here. The south side of Paurk-Philip is washed by a stream, on the north bank of which may of the stones used in the ancient foundation may be seen; one of these formed the semi-circular cap of a small cut-stone windows. The people preserve no tradition whatever about this monastery. The field at the opposite side of the stream is called Mocha-na-mo (Macha-na-mbo), the Yard of the Cows’. Carrigan’s description tallies with a field 200m SW of the graveyard which has clearly defined earthworks and a stream running NW-SE along the S side of the field, visible on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map, though since re-aligned and now dry. See attached: KK022-045----_01 Satellite imagery (Digitalglobe, viewed 27 May 2021) KK022-045----_02 Satellite imagery (Digitalglobe, viewed 27 May 2021) Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 27 May 2021