Religious house — unclassified in Addergoole

Not marked on any edition of OS 6-inch maps. A convent was granted to the prioress and nuns of Kilculliheen c. 1240 by David FitzMilo; no record of it being occupied after this. However, the nuns still owned 60 acres here in 1541 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 312). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 234-5), the convent was situated in the 'Kiln Field', NW of Belmont House. No visible surface remains survive. It was destroyed some time before 1805 (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 234, 235). Situated in a low lying position. Described by Carrigan as 'The "Nunnery" of Addrigoole stood in Addrigoole "Kiln field", beside the road to Aghmacart, about 4 perches north-west of the lodge-gate of Belmount House. The site of "Addrigoole churchyard" (LA034-022002-) is partly in the Kiln-field and partly on the road just mentioned, which, it appears, runs through the ancient cemetery. The "Nunnery" is still well remembered in tradition, though its foundations have been uprooted for much more than a hundred years. The churchyard was obliterated before 1805, but its site at once becomes apparent whenever the "Kiln field" is under cultivation. The townland of addrigoole, anciently Gortaddrigoole, was appropriated, with other lands and several churches and chapels, to the Nunnery of Kilkilliheen (Ferrybank) by David Fitz Milo, Baron of Overke, about the year 1240. In 1540 the Abbess of Kilkilliheen is found surrendering, inter alia, 'one messuage, with 10 acres of arable land, pasture and meadow, and the appurtenances, in Adrygowle, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of 5s.' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 234) 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