Ecclesiastical enclosure in Kilcolman

This monastery appears to have been named after St. Colman the black or ‘Black Colman’ which formed part of the monastic estate of Monaincha (TN018-001001-), Co. Tipperary. In 1503 there is a reference to 'sancti Colimani Nigri' which translates as 'Saint Colman the dark or black' (Gleeson and Costello 1943, 90). The Ordnance Survey Letters of 1838 recorded the local tradition that ‘that St. Colman [of Daire/Doire Mór] founded a monastery here, from whom the Parochial name Kilcolman (ecclesia S. Colmani) is formed' (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 31). However this tradition appears to be incorrect as the church of Daire Mór associated with St. Colmán was located in the townland of Longfordpass North (TN042-025----), Co. Tipperary (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 389; Manning 1997, 359; Ó Riain 2011, 196). In 1566 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries a 21 year lease of the lands of Kilcolman which formed part of the monastic estate of Monaincha also known as the house of the Blessed Virgin Mary de Insula Vitae [Island of Life], alias Inchenebeo were granted to William O’Carroll and his son, John (Nicholls 1994, 117). In 1586 the lease of these lands of Monaincha monastic estate including Kilcolman were granted to Sir Lucas Dillon on a 60 year term (Nicholls 1994, 750). In 1603, 30 acres of arable land and 16 acres of pasture in Kilcolman forming part of the monastic estate of Monaincha were granted to William Taaffe (Cal. pat. rolls Jas I, 2-3). On W end of natural hillock with wet partially reclaimed land from S, W to N, higher ground to E. Prior to reclamation the land from S through W to N would have been wet marshy land. A stream running N-S cuts through the W quadrant of this possible ecclesiastical enclosure (diam. 250m E-W; 160m N-S). The parish of Kilcolman straddles the two baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt. A cropmark of a roughly oval-shaped enclosure can be seen on 2005 OSI aerial photographs. On the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map the curving field boundary to the E follows the line of the possible ecclesiastical enclosure. Around the base of the hillock on which the chruch and graveyard are situated are the remains of a fosse which is clearly visible from N to E. There are no visible remains of this fosse in the field to the S of the hillock. In the field immediately W of the stream are the remains of a wide terrace running across the face of the rising ground. Traces of low earthworks can be seen in this field between the terrace and the stream to the W of the church and graveyard. The function, form and dating of these low earthworks is unclear. Inside the possible monastic enclosure are the remains of two churches (OF038-007001-; OF038-007003-), a graveyard (OF038-007004-), a holy well (OF038-007002-) and a bullaun stone (OF038-007005-). One of the churches (OF038-007003-) is annotated on the 6-inch map as ‘Insula Vitae Abbey’ [Abbey of the Island of Life] which is a reference to the monastery of Monaincha also known as Insula Vitae. 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. See attached pdf document showing outline of cropmark of possible ecclesiastical enclosure superimposed onto 2005 OSI aerial photograph. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revision: 16 September 2014