Church (in ruins) — Clopook

Situated atop high ground with good panoramic views in all directions. The impressive hillfort known as the Dun of Clopook (LA019-021001-) is located 270m to the NNE. A circular pond of unknown antiquity can be seen in the adjoining field 55m to the N of the graveyard (LA019-022001-). Present remains consist of a nave (ext. dims. 12.9m E-W; 8.4m N-S; wall T 0.9m) and chancel (ext. dims. 9.7m E-W; 6.2m N-S) church constructed with roughly coursed limestone rubble standing in the centre of an irregular-shaped graveyard (LA019-022001-). This medieval church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Comerford 1886, 128). According to Byrne (1856, 37) the ‘ancient name of this church is Bla-kil-anan [Bealaquillane]; “Bla” is a corruption of “Baile”, a town, so the compound may signify the town of Anan’s wood, or the church of Anan’s town. By these expositions it appears that the place took its name from the Irish goddess Áine’. The W wall of the nave no longer survives intact and a railing has been inserted into the S wall of the chancel. The interior of the chancel contains some early 18th century grave-slabs, one of which belongs to a priest called Roger Moore who died in 1706. The original doorway into the church was located in the centre of the S wall of the nave, only the lower jambstones of this doorway survives. Evidence of a destroyed single light window located off centre to E in N and S walls of nave. The chancel is entered through a wide segmental arched opening (Wth 2.15m). No other features visible. The church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. According to the Patent Rolls of Edward VI, on Nov. 24th, 1550, Bernard Dempsie was presented to the vicarage of Bealaquillane [Clopook] (Comerford 1886, 128). Clopook was located in the Gaelic lordship of 'Farryn O'Kalle' and in 1551 the lands of 'Powkiscastell' [Clopook] were leased to Sir John Travers (Nicholls 1994, 166). In 1569 the lands of 'Cloghpowke' [Clopook] were leased by the Crown to Francis Cosbie [Cosby] which included the rectory of Ballequillane (ibid, 175-6). In 1593 the Crown leased the lands of 'Cloghpowle' [Clopook] and the 'rectory of Ballequillan with the tithes extending to Ballequillan, Cloghpowle, Towinlevan, Nenaghe, Ballickhullen, and Curragh' to Alex Cosbie of Stradbally (ibid., 221). In 1624 the inquisition into the property of the deceased Peter Davells listed 'Cloghpooke & Ballequillen' as part of his estate (Cal. inq. post mortem, 25 Jas. I). The church was described in the 19th century as consisting of a ‘nave and chancel; the nave measured 38 feet [11.6m] by 18 [5.5m]; the chancel, which has a round-headed arch, 24 feet [7.3m] by 15 [4.6m]. There are traces of an east window, and also of two lancet windows in the nave, 9 inches [0.23m] wide on the outside, one in the north, the other in the south wall’ (ibid.). The church was once more described in the History of the Queen’s County in 1907 as ‘the old church near this spot is now a ruin, the nave of which measures 38 ft. [11.6m] in length by 20 ft. [6m] in breadth. The walls are 3 ft. [0.9m] in thickness, and although built with surface stone, and not wholly perfect, the portions remaining are well preserved and covered with ivy. The west gable and wall are gone. The door was in the south side wall. A window was on either side wall. There is a choir [chancel] attached, and it is 20 ft. [6m] in length by 14 ft. [4.25m] in width. There is an end window in its gable, but the side walls are greatly ruined. There is a beautiful choir [chancel] arch connecting with the nave, having been built with chiselled stones, and elegantly turned. At present, it is about 5ft. [1.5m] over-ground from the springing of the arch; but the soil beneath has been filled up with graves. Within the choir [chancel] may yet be seen the flag-tomb of Rev. Roger Moore, said to have been born in 1640, and to have died December 28th, A.D. 1706, another account has it in 1720’ (O’Hanlon and O’Leary 1907, 343). Comerford (1886, 128) recorded the tradition that in ‘the immediate vicinity of Clopoke is a place called “the Mass Field”, where the faithful used to assemble for the celebration of the divine mysteries in the penal times’. See attached Bing Maps aerial photograph taken between 06-07 November 2011 which shows church and graveyard. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 12 December 2013