St. Munnas Church (in ruins) — Taghmon

St. Munna founded a monastery in the late 6th century at Achad Liathdrum – Field of the Grey Ridge – that came to be known as Taghmon – Teach Munna (Munna’s house). The saint may have been from Wesmeath – Longford, and through his mother, Feidhealm, connected to Niall Naoighiallach (of the nine hostages) and the royal families of Ireland. His Saint’s Life may have been written as early as the 8th century, and thus be relatively uncorrupted. He studied at Kilmore, Co. Cavan, and Devinish, Co. Fermanagh, and has been connected with Colum Cille of Iona. His first churches were in the midlands, but in later life he settled in Taghmon where he is said to have died in 635 (Culleton 1999, 108-85; Ó Riain 2011, 505-07). His monastery prospered and the deaths of the abbots are recorded from AD 777 to 953 (Ó Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 23). It was a rival to Ferns, and in 814 or 816 a battle was fought between the monasteries or their supporters, in which 400 people died. Saint Mullins, Co. Carlow and Taghmon were attacked by Viking raiders in 824, but in 825-7 Taghmon defeated the foreigners (Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 416-7). However, the monastery was plundered by Vikings in 917, and it might never have recovered as it seems to have been defunct by the mid-11th century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 44-5). This may reflect the decline of its patrons, the Síl Máeluidir, in the Uí Chinnselagh dynasty (Culleton 1999, 142-3). Taghmon is situated on a gentle S-facing slope. St. Munna’s church is depicted as a small structure on the 1839 Ed. of the OS 6-inch map and it is described by John O’Donovan writing c. 1840 as being just a small portion of the chancel ‘18 feet (c. 5.5m) in length by 11 feet four inches (c. 3.45m) in breadth’ reduced almost to the foundations with a small window towards the E end of the S wall (O’Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 51). None of this structure survives within a rectangular graveyard (dims 37m N-S; 31m E-W) defined by masonry walls. Twelve granite grave-markers in the graveyard have solid ringed heads, and are probably influenced in their design by the only physical remnant of St. Munna’s monastery in the base and head of a granite high cross (WX041-008002-) at the probable site of the medieval parish church (WX041-008015-) c. 120m to the N. Archaeological testing (97E0450) outside the graveyard to the NE failed to recovery any related material (Hurley 1998), although features that may be connected with it (WX041-008016-) were found in excavation c. 160m to the NW. Theabove description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 20 March, 2013