Church in Lackenavorna

Situated in a large rolling field with a hill to the E and S and another rising to the SW. Not visible at ground level. All field boundaries have been removed and the field has been reclaimed. The site is indicated on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map as an irregular-shaped area defining Killederdadrum graveyard (TN027-100006) but is not indicated on the latest ed. though 'it was known locally that the site was a graveyard and it was called “The Kyle Field” or “Kylederrydadrum”' (Manning 1984b, 239). In the Papal Taxation of 1302-6 the parish of 'Kildadrum' was valued at twenty shillings (CDI, vol. 5, 302). The site was excavated in 1979 (Manning 1984b, 237-68) when a much-denuded oval enclosure (TN027-100001) (52m N-S; 70m E-W) was still visible. 'The entrance area, on the south-east, was excavated yielding an undug causeway and post-holes for a gate. The foundation trench of a circular house was discovered at the west end of the enclosure, and two similar house sites, one replacing and partly on top of the other, were uncovered on the north side. There was a small annex-type feature outside the enclosure to the west. The ditches of the annex stopped short of the main enclosure ditch and some cultivation furrows were found within it' (ibid., 237). 'Most of the small finds recovered, including a piece of E-ware, can be assigned to the Early Christian period' (ibid.). The excavation also revealed later burials often cutting across the occupation features. Some of the burials were dated to post-medieval times and 'the remainder may be of the same date, as none are demonstrably early' (ibid.). There was a small standing stone (TN027:100003) near the centre of the site (Manning 1984b, 249), which may have been used to mark the general area of burial during a later period of use, possibly associated with the burial of unbaptised children (TN027-100002) (ibid., 262). The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008