Templeavally Church (in Ruins)’ — Clonkeen (kilkenny West By.)

Templeavally church located in the townland of Clonkeen situated on low-lying poorly drained land with good views in all directions. Loghter Castle (WM016-001----) 1.3km to NW and possible ringfort (WM016-003---) 340m to N. Inny River marking county boundary with Longford 350m to N and Creggy River 95m to E. Poorly preserved ivy-clad church ruins (ext. dims. 11.7m E-W; 7.3m N-S; wall T 0.8m) standing in the S quadrant of an irregular-shaped graveyard (WM016-004001-) defined by a stone wall of post medieval date. On the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map the church is shown standing in the N quadrant of a roughly oval-shaped graveyard which may be following line of possible ecclesiastical enclosure (WM016-004002-). The remains of this church consist of low ivy-clad walls (H 1.5-2m) constructed with rubble masonry containing well preserved fossils visible in external face of N wall of church. The N wall (H 2m) of the church is covered in ivy making examination of this wall impossible. The NW angle of the church and low poorly preserved E gable are both covered in ivy. A section of the S wall of the church has been rebuilt to accommodate the insertion of a mural tablet marking the burial plot of Father Banon who was buried inside the church in 1831 (Cogan 1862-7, 446). The interior of the church is uneven with several memorials visible. The church is entered through a modern gap located off centre to E in the S wall. There is no clear evidence for the location of the original entrance. No architectural features or any cut stone visible in the upstanding fabric of the church ruins. Cogan (1862-7, 505) recorded that the ‘chapel of Templeavalley, now Clonkeen measures thirty-three feet [10.05m] by eighteen feet six inches [5.6m]’ . This church is not depicted on the 1659 Down Survey map of Kilkenny West barony where the townland of Clonkeen is recorded as being located in part of Shrule barony in County Longford (NLI, MS 723-4). The Down Survey map of Noughaval parish records that the lands of Clonkeen were granted in 1653 to Captain Edmonds (ibid.). No church is depicted in this area on the Down Survey map of Noughaval parish. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 9 October 2014