Church (in ruins) — Cooneen (dolla Par.)

Situated in pasture at the E end of an E-W ridge, just off the crest towards the S slope. The ground slopes steeply immediately S of the church towards the Nenagh River which is at the base of the slope. Listed in the ecclesiastical taxation of the Diocese of Killaloe in 1302 (CDI, vol. 5, 302). A rectangular church (dims. 5.75m N-S; 11.7m E-W; wall T 0.9m) built with limestone rubble which has largely collapsed, that on the N side being the most substantial (int. H 0.95m; ext. H 0.33m). The entrance (Wth 3.3m) is roughly in the centre of the W wall. A lintelled, rectangular stone chamber (dims. 1.8m x 0.9m) has been built up against the internal face of the E wall - this may be a vault for a priest who was buried in the NE end of the church (OS Name Books c. 1840). There is a possible porch at the W end of the church, though only a portion of the S wall survives (L 5.4m). On the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map the church is surrounded by a trapezoidal enclosure entitled 'Burial Ground' (TN033-005003). While no burials are apparent outside the church there are traces of a boundary wall extending N-S immediately W of the church and to the NE. Some of the stones within the church itself may be burial markers as the OS Name Books (1840) note that 'children were still being buried within the walls of the church' (TN033-005002). 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