Taghboyne Church in ruins — Taghboyne

A monastery as founded at Taghboyne (Teach Baoithín) by Baoithín (alias Mobhaoi), son of Cuana of the Ceinéal Éanna, a branch of the Ceinéal Conail in Donegal (Ó Riain 2011, 89). It is possible that Baoithín of Westmeath is identical with Baoithín of Iona (ibid.). The feastday of Bishop Baoithín of Taghboyne fell on the 19th of February as recorded in the Martyrology of Tallaght. Situated on top of hillock with good views of the surrounding countryside. Poorly preserved ruins of Taghboyne church aligned NE-SW stands in NW quadrant of triangular-shaped graveyard (WM025-078003-) both of which are enclosed by a large ecclesiastical enclosure (WM025-078002-). The N wall of the church no longer survives but may have been incorporated into the N boundary wall of the graveyard. Only the lower courses of the W wall survives with the lower half of a late medieval doorway in the centre of the W gable. The E end of the S wall now covered in ivy is the best preserved with the remains a slit ope window visible. No surface remains visible of the destroyed E gable. The poorly preserved W doorway consists of a rebated punch dressed limestone doorway of late medieval date with single arch stone lying on the ground inside the doorway. The interior of the church is covered in vegetation making detailed examination of the building impossible. See attached plan of monument surveyed and drawn by the ASI. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 19 January 2018