Church (Site of) — Rahanavannagh

Situated to the West of Blandsford House. Possibly a religious establishment founded by the O'Moores (O'Byrne D.1856, 52). No visible surface remains of church. Uninscribed grave-markers in the NE quadrant of a graveyard (LA024-023001-). Described in The History of Queens County as 'Here there is an old place of interment, held in great veneration by the people from time immemorial, and yet greatly resorted to on the occasion of death. On the Old Map of Leix, Tolouir is marked near a church, which appears to have stood there, early in the sixteenth century, and in the former teritory of Tovachlov. It seems very probable that this had been the placed alluded to, I that Litany attributed to Aengu Ceili De, where he invokes the Seven Bishops of Tulach Labhair who must have been buried in the cemetery there previouse to the ninth century' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 188-89). 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