Ecclesiastical enclosure in Killowney Beg

Curving arc of townland boundary c. 100m to N and NE of church (OF022-012001-) and graveyard (OF022-012002-) along with curving arc of field boundaries to SW of graveyard may indicate possible remains of an ecclesiastical enclosure of Early Christian date (Fitzpatrick 1998, 121). The partial remains of an enclosing bank which may have formed part of an inner enclosure visible on aerial photographs (GSI June 1973 N. 521/520) was levelled in the early 1990s. This enclosing bank was located in the field to the E of Killowney church (OF022-012001-) and graveyard (OF022-012002-) and was levelled by a machine driver when the graveyard was being extended c. 1990 (SMR file 1997). The circular curving field banks indicated on the current edition of the OS 6-inch maps 150m to the SSW of the church (OF022-012001-) may be the remains of the original ecclesiastical enclosure (int. diam. c. 290m) associated with an Early Christian monastery at Killowney. This field boundary no longer survives but a portion of an upstanding curving field boundary located 100m to the N of the church (OF022-012001-) may be the only surviving surface remains of the possible ecclesiastical enclosure. This upstanding section of the ecclesiastical enclosure acts as the townland boundary between Killowney Beg and Killowney More. The curving shape of the 19th century graveyard wall may suggest the presence of an inner enclosure with the graveyard wall following the curve of the earlier inner enclosure. See attached word document for annotated sketch plan showing circuit of possible ecclesiastical enclosure. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revision : 27 November 2014