Gateway in Aghmacart

Not marked on the 1840 or 1906 eds OS 6-inch maps. Reference to a gateway site at entrance to priory, (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 237-239). No visible surface remains. Described in the History of the Queens County as 'A gate at the entrance, with a well turned arch of good workmanship, is a remarkable feature, with stone sockets for the gate to move in. Through the attention and care of the Right Rev. Dr. Pococke, whilst he resided as Protestant Bishop in the see of Ossory, a part of these ruins were repaired, and were used as a parish church' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 1, 178). According to Monasticon Hibernicum this gate stood at the NW side of the graveyard but had been taken down by the eighteenth century (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 239). The slightest remains of this gateway survive in the fragmentary wall return of the graveyard wall to the W of the church of Ireland church where the pathway leads into the graveyard, in this wall return there is the remains of a bar-slot that was probably associated with the medieval gateway of the Augustinian priory. From this gateway the enclosing wall ran Eastwards onto the current Church of Ireland church fragmentary remains of this enclosing wall can been seen in the E and W walls of the Protestant church. 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