What is recorded here

Site of Church is a church in Kilknockan, County Tipperary, Ireland. It stands on a gentle north-facing slope at the base of Kilknockan Hill, near earthworks to the southwest through west to north and a castle no longer visible 50 metres to the west-northwest. The ruinous limestone building measures 13.3 metres east-west and 8.6 metres north-south, with most walls reduced to low grass-covered remains, though part of the west gable still rises 4 to 5 metres high. Opposing gaps in the side walls may mark former doorways, and a raised area at the east end may be the remains of a small chancel.

On a gentle N-facing slope at the base of Kilknockan Hill, in pasture. It formed part of a settlement with earthworks (TS070-011003-) in the field to the SW-W-N and a castle (TS070-011001-), which is no longer visible, 50m to the WNW. A ruinous church (ext. dims. 13.3m E-W; 8.6m N-S) which largely survives as a low, grass-covered walls (int. H 0.15-0.27m; ext. H 0.25-0.42m; Wth c. 0.9m), though a good portion of the W gable survives (L upstanding 5.6m, H c. 4-5m; T 1.1m). It is built of roughly coursed limestone rubble. The church was in a similar condition when visited in 1840, though the W gable, which is now heavily ivy covered, appears to have been visible as the OS Letters (O'Flanagan 1930, vol.2, 165-6) note that it ‘has two windows, one large and rectangular and masonwork inside, where it is seven and a half feet [2.3m] from the ground, and has a flagstone crossing it at top. Over this window at the top of the gable is a small rectangular one, by which it appears a floor was lighted above. The lower window is nine feet [2.7m] from the ground on the exterior and is rectangular and narrow and built with chiselled limestone bevelled. The upper one is broader but not high, neither is it bevelled and the stones in it are but roughly dressed'. There are tumbled stones on the ground at both ends of the W gable. Opposing gaps (S wall Wth 2m; N wall Wth 1.4m) in the sides walls 3m and 3.6m respectively from the W gable may indicate the position of doorways. There is a raised area (dims. 5.3m E-W; 6m N-S, H above ext. 0.25m) adjoining the E end which may be tumble or could be the remains of a small chancel, the N side of the raised area is flush with the N wall of the church and with the northern extent of the graveyard as indicated on the 6-inch OS maps, while the S side is 2.6m inside the S wall of the church. On the 1st (1840) ed. and 2nd (1903-04) ed. 6-inch OS map there is an irregular area S-SW of the church outlined by a dashed line which is indicated as the ‘Site of Grave Yard’ and ‘Grave Yard (Disused)’ respectively. The dashed line suggests that the graveyard was not enclosed. There is no visible trace of a graveyard, marker stones or headstones above ground. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 6 March 2012

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.