Church (Site of) — Clonkeen (maryborough West By.)

An ancient church, formerly called Cluainchaoin, was traditionally remembered to have stood here, at a place called Churchfields, where an old burial ground was in use until the early 1800s (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 210-11). Possible birth place of St Fintan, the Abbot of Clonenagh (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 210-211). A church was mentioned here in the Ecclesiastical Taxation of 1302-6 (Sweetman 1875-80, vol. V, 250). Around 1616 the church was in a ruinous state but the chancel was kept in repair. No visible surface remains survive. According to Comerford the site of the ancient church may be reached through an intricate old roadway, which debouches from the Limerick-Dublin road on the south side, between Maryborough and Mountrath. A curious and very ancient hollow way leads immediately to the spot, on the verge of a very extensive bog stretching to the south and east. Several fine and fertile arable, meadow and pasture fields, lying low, however surround it to the north and west. The place is designated Churchfield, which proves that a church formerly stood here, on the site of the obliterated cemetery (LA017-007002-). Within the memory of persons living, corpses were here interred; but of late years; the land having been occupied by a framer and opened for a sheep range, was deserted. The headstones have been removed and even trace of a grave now remains (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 339). 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