What is recorded here

Site of Church is a church in Ballynilard, County Tipperary, Ireland. A low mound 11 metres long, 0.7 metres high and 4.5 metres wide, aligned north to south about 20 metres southwest of the cross, may represent its remains. The old church was called Teampull San Sionáin, and foundation stones were still visible near the cross in the 1840s. During a great pestilence, people and cattle took refuge in the church field, believing it safe from infection.

In grassland atop a low rise of ground with good views in all directions. There is a holy well (TS066-065----) 250m to the NW and a castle (TS066-066----) 370m to the N. A low mound (L 11m; H 0.7m; Wth 4.5m) orienated on a N-S axis c. 20m to SW of cross (TS066-068002-) may represent the remains of a church. According to the OS letters there was an old church here called 'Teampull San Sionáin' and traces of the foundation stones were visible near the cross in the 1840s (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 36). The OS letters record the local belief that 'in the time of a great pestilence which prevailed in the neighbourhood, men drove their cattle to, and themselves took refuge in the field in which the old Church was situated, and in which they believed themselves and the cattle safe from the infection' (ibid.). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

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