Church in Loughdeheen

Situated towards the bottom of a W-facing slope. An early ecclesiastical site remains unplanted within a coniferous forest. The ecclesiastical enclosure consists of a subcircular scrub-covered area (dims. c. 120m E-W; c. 100m N-S) defined by an earthen bank (at SE: Wth 5.5m; int. H 1.5m; ext. H 1.4m), an outer fosse (at SE: Wth of top 6.5m; Wth of base 3m; D 0.8m), and an external bank (at SE: Wth 3.7m; ext. H 0.7m) E-S with field banks elsewhere. A rectangular enclosure (dims. 45m N-S; 29m E-W) against the inside of the bank at E is defined by a low stone wall (Wth 2m; H 0.5-1m) within which are the foundations of a two-cell building (ext. dims. 18m E-W; 5m N-S) defined by stone walls (Wth 0.75-1.2m; H 0.5m) with entrances to each cell in the N wall (Wth 0.9m at W; 1.2m at E). A bullaun stone (Power 1952, 373) attested at the site c. 1985 (Carroll 1985, 22) can no longer be found. There is a holy well c. 50m S of the structure. This is an overgrown hollow with rock outcrop immediately to its E, and the beginning of a stream from it is lintelled. he above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Waterford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1999). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore. Date of upload/revision: 21st December 2010.