Abbey (in ruins) — Oldtown (clanmallagh By.)

Reference to a church (dims. 12m E-W; 6.3m N-S) situated within a ringfort (LA034-023002-) (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 233-4). No visible surface remains. Possibly an early monastic site. Described by Carrigan as 'In the 'Rath field', in Thawrla, there is a round rath (LA034-032002-) 33 yds. in diameter, within which the Ordnance Map marks the site of an 'Abbey in ruins'. The foundations of a building, 40 ft. from east to west, by 21 ft. from north to south, are still distinclty traceable inside the ring. The tradition of a church or abbey having ever been here, has died out. There are two ancient draw-wells close to the rath; one is in the same field and is called the Closh; the other is in the next field to the south, beside the fence seperating Thawlra farm from the Co. Kilkenny, and is called Lughany.' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 233) A rectilinear-shaped enclosure (LA034-032003-) with rounded corners is visible as a cropmark on Google Earth photographs taken 28/06/2018 immediately N of the religious house and may be the remains of a monastic precinct boundary. The S side of this enclosure is possibly visible as a curvilinear cropmark on aerial imagery to S of the abbey building. 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