Lost Ecclesiastical Sites in Laois
In about fifty one of the ecclesiastical sites in the county, (about 27%), there are no surface remains of the early churches visible, apart from a small heap of
stones in a few cases. Even the ancient graveyards in some of the sites are
obliterated. A number of the sites mark the locations where small monasteries
were founded at a very early date, and which went into decline and were
abandoned for one reason or another, perhaps as early as the 6th or 7th century.Having been abandoned so long ago the buildings and graveyards the sites contained seemed to have back into the very soil itself. It must be bourne in mind as well that the early buildings there would have been mostly of timber and wattle construction, and as such were liable to fairly rapid decay. In a number of instances traces of the surrounding banks which enclosed the sites,undectectable to the eye, have shown up in aerial photography The Ecclesiastical Sites of Laois which are National Monuments
Only five of the ecclesiastical sites in the county have been designated as
National Monuments. There are: Errill, Fossy, Killeshin, Sleaty and Timahoe.
It has been argued by such authorites as John Feehan that Aghaboe deserves to be designated as a Natioanl Monument, and that some other significant sites, such as Kyle, Clonenagh, Aghmacart and Oughaval, even though little of their structures have survived above ground, should likewise get recognition and
protection on the part of the State.
Monastic Laois written by Joseph Kennedy sold out its first print run. Copies of the book are still available on CD via Acrobat Reader at a cost of €10 (including P&P) To order Click here