Church (in Ruins) — Ballykean

Undivided church (max. ext. dims. 7.6m N-S x c. 25m E-W, wall T. 0.75m) built with uncoursed or roughly coursed rubble. Only W portion of S wall, part of W gable and small portion of N wall still stand. Rectangular shaped window and W jamb of doorway both with late medieval dressed stonework are to be seen in E portion of S wall. (ITA Survey 1942). Only the S and W walls of a poorly preserved church (int. dims. 6.9m N-S; 14m E-W; wall T 0.8m) survives built with uncoursed rubble with punch dressed quoins. Flat headed rectangular slit window in a round arched embrasure in S wall. To the E of this window there is a small wall niche or ambry (0.32m by 0.32m). No other architectural features visible. There are several burials erected in the interior of the church. Quoin stones and jamb stones of window all display evidence of punch dressing indicating a late medieval date. Raised rectangular graveyard (OF026-017002-) with 18th and 19th-century headstones. 17th-century graveslab (OF026-017003-) near S wall of graveyard unlocated due to dense overgrowth. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011