Site of Church

Situated on a slight rise on the N bank of a WNW-ESE stream, which is c. 40m to the S. This is an early monastic site founded by a St Colman in the 7th century, according to J. O'Donovan, writing c. 1840 (O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 245–66), or St. Aodhán (Ó Riain 2011, 75). It was called Sean Bota - the old tents or booths. St Colman was a contemporary of St. Mogue of Ferns (WX015-003002-) and his pattern was celebrated on 27th October. (Ua Dubhghaill 1925, 92-3; Culleton 1999, 127) The church also served as the parish church of Templeshanbo within an oval graveyard (dims. c. 100m E-W; c. 55m N-S) defined by an earthen bank. According to a Visitation by Thomas Ram, the Protestant bishop of Ferns, in 1615 Thomas Gallamore was the rector, John Hughes the curate, and the church and chancel were in repair (Hore 1900-11, vol. 6, 272). Portion of the W wall survives (L 4.15m; T 1.2m; H 1.4m). Originally the doorway (Wth 0.9m) had a batter and a round head that does not survive. There is a bullaun stone (dims. 0.52m x 0.42m; H 0.2m plus) with a single basin (diam. 0.29m; D 0.14m) in the doorway of the church. St Colman's Well, a rectangular drystone structure approached by stone steps, lies c. 150m to the SE (Ó Broin 1983-4, 34). A bullaun stone from well (SMR file) is now missing. The graveyard with a C. of I. church is surrounded by a D-shaped ecclesiastical enclosure (max. ext. dims. c. 200m E-W; c. 130m N-S) visible as two cropmark features backing onto the stream on aerial photographs (MM (2) 16–25; (17) 29-36) and digital areial photographs (WX014-011_1 to _4) from 2006. Ballindaggan burial ground (WX014-012----) is on the other side of the stream c. 100m to the S. The above 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: 26 April, 2012 Amended: 4 Sep. 2013

Founded by St. Colman in the 7th century, the site of the church at Bola Beg is associated with early Christian monastic activity in Ireland. Its significance lies in its historical connection to one of the many early saints who spread Christianity in the region during the Early Medieval period.