Freshford
I passed through Freshford in County Kilkenny last year when we weren't "locked down" because of Covid 19. Not knowing much about the place I was delighted to see a beautiful Hiberno-Romanesque doorway at Saint Lachtain's Church beside the village green.
Freshford would be quite close to South Laois so it's easily accessable and within easy reach for anyone living in the Laois area. This area previously lay in the ancient Kingdom of Ossory.
The village was quiet and the sun was shining brightly so it was a pleasure to take a quick time out here before continuing my journey.
In a twist of fate I had previously seen a relic of Saint Lachtain at the archaeology museum in Dublin. His relic is in the shape of an arm and dates from A.D. 1120.
The Church was closed so unfortunately I had to make do with a wander around outside.
The graveyard has every grave marked on a map board in the grounds which would be very helpful if you were looking for the resting place of a particular person or doing some research.
Patrick Comerford has a very comprehensive article on Saint Lachtain's Church here.
There is some beautiful script in Irish around the doorway which mentions the Stonemason and the Patron. The whole edifice is stunning in close up detail and my photographs cannot do it justice.
The Doorway dates from the 12th Cty and was incorporated into a later 1730's Church.
Saint Lachtain is believed to have died in the year 622 and was born in County Cork. His birth name was Senecha. Sometime in the 600's he founded and became Abbot of a Monastery at Freshford.
The village green in Freshford is well maintained and there are a couple of different water pumps located on it which are brightly painted and colourful.
Beside the green are the remains of the Freshford Cross/Shee Wayside Cross which was built in 1622 in memory of Lucas Shee.
The Roman Catholic Church is also quite close to the village green.
All in all Freshford turned out to be quite beautiful and interesting but I didn't have long to hang around.
Hopefully when Corona movement restrictions are lifted I'll get to revisit and spend more time in the locality as it's a beautiful and scenic area.
For those interested in walking there is a local looped walk.
Coordinates for Freshford here:
52°43'56.8 N 7°23'54.2 W
52.732454 - 7.398375
Old 1890's Vent Pipe manufactured by Drogheda Iron Works.
It's beside the Church in Freshford, a late 19th Cty industrial relic.
