Tecolm Church (in Ruins) — Corbally (ballyadams By.)

Marked on the 1563 map of Leix and Offaly (Hore 1863, f.p. 345). It was associated with St. Colman of Oughaval (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 131). Situated on a rise in gently undulating countryside. Constructed of roughly coursed limestone, only the W gable (Wth c. 6.65m, wall T. c. 1m) with segmental arched doorway remains. No headstones visible in surrounding graveyard (LA025-010001-). Described by Comerford as 'of the church at Tecolme only the west gable remains, in which was the doorway. Mounds indicate the outlines of this church, from which it appears to have been 36 (11m) feet long by 13 (4m) wide. It is called in the locality, Teampull. A graveyard in which it is situated, has ceased to be used for interments' (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 131). Site revisited by Caimin O'Brien on the 01 May 2007. In pasture on rising ground with good views in all directions. Presently only the ivy covered west gable (ext. L 8.3m N-S; wall T 0.8 - 1m) of the church (ext. dims. 8.3m N-S; wall T 0.8 - 1m) survives to full height with broken out doorway (Wth 1.9m) in the centre of this gable, a very short stretch of the N and S wall returns (ext. L 1.4m) survive. Church was built with roughly coursed limestone rubble with base batter visible on W gable, quoin stones have been robbed out and were probably used for local buildings. Drawbar slot visible in S side of broken out doorway embrasure. No surface remains visible of the wall footings of the rest of the church or of any undulating features suggesting the grass covered wall footings of the church. No evidence of any grave markers or any surface undulations indicating the presence of a graveyard or of any graveyard boundary. Field has been ploughed, tilled and reseeded with grass, all undulations were probably removed during these agricultural activities. The graveyard is indicated as a pentagonal shaped area (approx. int. dims. 35m N-S; 40m E-W) defined by a graveyard wall with the church located in the centre of the graveyard. No trace of this graveyard wall or of any grave markers survive. Described in the OS Letters in 1838 as 'The old Church, is all down excepting the west gable, which contains a pointed arch about seven feet in height.' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 86). According to O'Hanlon the church 'stood as a tolerably perfect ruin, until the great storm, on the night of January 6th, 1839, completely levelled one of its gables, which for a long time was spread unevenly over the adjoining graves. It was even then a picturesque ruin…now not a single fragment of wall remains above the ground, although the foundations are still recognisable.' (O'Hanlon - n.d. - Old Churches of Leix). 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