Convent — Garrycastle

Situated on a natural rise overlooking flat low-lying land with four holy wells (OF029-015004-/006-/007-/008-) to the N. In the NE quadrant of a polygonal-shaped graveyard (OF029-015002-) are the remains of two buildings of late 17th/early 18th century date. On the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map a building anotated as 'Convent' and aligned N-S stands in the area where the ruins of two buildings aligned E-W now stand. On the revised 1908 ed. OS 25-inch map two seperate buildings aligned E-W are depicted running parallel to each other as can be seen in the graveyard today. It is not clear which one of these buildings was annotated on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map as the 'Convent' or whether both buildings formed one structure as depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. Described in 1837 as ‘an ancient church called All Saints (OF029-015001-), near which is a holy well (Lewis 1837, 471). In 1838 the Ordnance Survey Letters recorded that ‘the walls of a comparatively modern church stand in ruins in the south part of Garrycastle townland and at the northeast side of it are portions of ruined walls, apparently of more ancient date’ (O’Flanagan 1933 vol. 2, 4). In 1942 Oliver Davies described the ‘ruins of a comparatively modern church (OF029-015001-) nothing remaining except the walls and to the north east there are portions of walls which seem to be more ancient date. In the end of these ruins which is nearest the road, there is a small bush (OF029-015003-) which is covered with souvenirs and at the base of which there is a collection of broken statuettes. When the people used perform the stations here they used finish at this bush’ (ITA Survey 1942). Present remains consists of an ivy-covered building possibly the remains of a late 17th / early 18th century chapel (dims. 8.4m E-W; 6.1m E-W; wall T 0.6m) with second more ruinous structure immediately to the N which the Ordnance Survey Letters recorded as a srtucture 'of morer ancient date' (O’Flanagan 1933 vol. 2, 4). The better preserved ivy-covered building is in good condition with its walls survive to full height. There is a large flat headed rectangular window in the E gable and a simple flat headed doorway at the W end of the S wall that has been partialy rebuilt with concrete lintel inserted over doorway opening. The interior of this chapel or convent was reused as a burial vault in the early 20th-century, the remains of the McDonald family burial vault can be seen in the NE angle of the church. The second ivy-clad poorly preserved building (dims. N-S 4.6m; E-W 9.2m; wall T 0.6m) alinged on an E-W axis is located immediately to the N of the church and is in a ruinous condition with no architectural features visible. Inside this building are the memorials of 19th century date belonging to the Tiquin family. This poorly preserved structure probably belongs to the same period as the adjoining church based on similar wall thickness which is too narrow for a medieval date. The 'Convent' marked on the OS 6-inch map may have been a late 17th century / early 18th century chapel or house that was built for friars similar to the convent (OF024-001----) in the townland of Cully. A pile of stones in the graveyard to the SW of the church probably marks the site of the 'Vault' that is depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. 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. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 03 September 2013