Church (in ruins) — Ahenny

On a natural terrace on an E-facing slope in undulating terrain. Three high crosses (TS079-007002-; TS079-007003-; TS079-007004-) within a graveyard (TS079-007005-) are located c. 30m to the S and SE. Nothing is known of the earliest history and dedication of the religious foundation of Ahenny, known formerly as Kilclispen (Fanning, 1976, 36) or St. Crispin's church (Killanin & Duignan, 1967, 143). In the Early Medieval Period this area was part of the Kingdom of Ossory, a powerful buffer state between the Laigin to the north and the Eoghanacht to the west (Edwards, 1983, 5). There is a discussion on the name Kilclispeen in Ó Cearbhaill (2007, 86-9). Carrigadoon hill dominates the view to the SW. The church, aligned E-W (ext. dims. 15.54m x c. 8.77m), is of roughly coursed sandstone rubble with small slate pinning stones. There are large sandstone block and start quoins at the NW angle. The NW and NE angles rest on a stone plinth. Only the N wall survives intact, though the middle section has collapsed. It reaches a max. height of 2.7m at the W end and 3.2m at the E end, above a basal plinth. A simple ogee-headed sandstone window at E end of N wall (H 0.95m; Wth 0.15m) is chamfered externally and has no bar holes. The internal window embrasure (Wth 0.7m) is flat-headed and splayed. A spud-stone is carved into the sill on the W side, but with no carved eye, the shutter bar went up into space behind the lintel. A portion of the E wall (L 5.3m; T 0.85m) survives. The W wall survives in a very ruinous state (L c. 8.77m; T 1.02m; max. H 0.31m), as does a short length of the S return at the SW angle (L 3.5m; T 0.85m; max. H 0.17m). There is a lot of sandstone rubble piled up in the interior NE angle. Internally at the W end of the N wall is a worn, red sandstone corbel 1.93m above internal ground level and 0.95m from the W wall. There are slate slabs dumped in the interior, from the nearby slate quarry according to a local informant. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011