St. Fintans Church (in Ruins)

Dedicated to St. Fintan who resided here before moving to Clonenagh (Comerford 1886, vol. 3, 337-338). Situated in an elevated position. An early medieval undivided church (L c. 36m; Wth c. 11.4m; Wall T 0.8m) built of roughly coursed rubble limestone with a late medieval two storey residential tower built onto W end of church. Original sandstone round arched doorway of twelfth century date located in centre of W gable was later rebuilt in the late medieval period when residential tower was added to W end of church. Doorway at first floor level located off centre to N in W wall of church gives access to second floor of tower and W gallery of church. Broken out window located off centre to W in S wall of church. Broken out window in centre of E gable of church. Beam holes visible in the W end of the N wall of the church which carried the timber joists of a first floor or gallery at W end of church. Visible inscribed headstones post date 1700 AD. Holy well (LA017-013) dedicated to St Fintan and bullaun stone (LA017-013001-) lies c. 180m to SSW. Described by Comerford (1886, vol. 3, 337) as a church 40 ft. in length with a small east window, and a round headed doorway in the west gable and a Gothic-shaped aperture, seemingly a passage into the tower higher up. The square tower placed at the west end is evidently of much more modern date than the church. An old stone causeway (LA017-014002-) is said to have formerly extended between Cremogue and Clonenagh, portions of which may still be traced. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

St. Fintan's Church in Cromoge is an early medieval church dedicated to St. Fintan, who later founded Clonenagh; the church, dating to the 7th or 8th century, is built of rough stone and reflects an undivided church design typical of early Irish monastic sites. Its elevated location suggests strategic or symbolic importance in the local Christian landscape.