Monday 2 January 2023

Killeshin Romanesque Church, Mass Rock, Motte and Waterworks - Laois/Carlow

Killeshin Romanesque Church

Killeshin Romanesque Church is just one of several points at interest at Killeshin in Laois.

The area is just a few Kilometres from the nearby town of Carlow which lies a proverbial Stones throw across the county border.

West Gable, Killeshin Romanesque Church, Laois

The Church was probably constructed during the 12th century and its present west Gable, partial walls and beautiful Romanesque doorway have survived the intervening years and are in a very reasonable condition today.

While some parts of the remining structure are of a later date it is also reputed that a Church was originally constructed on the site sometime earlier during the 5th or 6th century by

Saint Comghán.

Doorway, Killeshin Romanesque Church, Laois

There is a wealth of interesting detail to be observed in the carvings including human representations, animals, various types of flower and foliage and beautiful interlace and knotwork.

Also carved on the archway is some Irish Script which can be easily made out and the words Orait do Diarmait Ri Lagan, translated as "a prayer for Diarmait, King of Leinster".

This is presumed to be Dermot MacMurrow, the infamous 12th century King of Leinster who is often blamed for the Norman conquest of Ireland under the Plantaganet King Henry II and Earl Richard de Clare, better known as Strongbow.

The Stonemasons who carved these wonderful relics were extremely talented people and its unlikely we will ever see such construction happen again in our lifetime despite the wealth of artisanal talent that abounds.

Detailed stone carving and its associated artistry is expensive and low on the bottom of things listed for the use of public expenditure I should imagine.

All the more reason to get out and about and see these ancient carvings in their present situations.

The area was at one time in history called Glenn Ussen or Gleann Uisean.

The present name Killeshin translates as the Church of Uisean. I am unsure as to whether Ussen/Uisean is a precursor to the Irish name Oisín, that's one for another day.

A Roundtower was located near the Church but is believed destroyed sometime in the early 1700's.

A large plain granite Font is located just outside the Church. Its origins and date are uncertain.

Directly across the road from the Romanesque Church at Killeshin is a large hilltop "Motte".

These large mounds were first constructed by the Normans when they arrived in Ireland.

Wooden fortified houses/castellations would have been constructed on top of them (occasionally small stone Castles too) and a fenced area called a "bailey" often surrounded the immediate area below.

The fenced bailey below may have contained some domesticated animals or horses. They were built from the 12th century onwards.

Closer to the small hamlet of Killeshin itself and at the side of the road lies a contemporary "Celtic" style Cross memorial to Padraig (Gaffney) MacGamhan, a former IRA volunteer.

In the grounds of the beautiful Gothic Church of the Holy Cross lie the remains of Thomas Proctor.

Thomas was I presume, a former British soldier who most likely served in WW1 with an early Cavalry/Tankers regiment.

I am basing this assessment purely on the pictured Tank which resembles something like an early "Mark 1 through 9" type early British Tank.

During WW1 the old Horse mounted Cavalry were changing over to the newly invented mechanized armored Tank and the conflict saw the early introduction of Tank warfare.

Both lie at peace in Killeshin today and represent two sides of the sometimes convoluted and confused same Irish coin.

May the wind be always on their backs.

There is a relic from the days of the Penal Laws in Ireland nearby too, a Mass Rock.

The entrance to this is located almost directly across from the Car park at the old Carlow Waterworks.

There are some steps onto grass which are probably remnants from a previous older entranceway which mark the way.

A path leads behind some houses and into a field at the rear.

The Mass Rock is located in a tree and shrub lined hollow which can be easily seen from a distance.

These Mass Rocks, in Irish "Carrig an Aifrinn" were where Mass was held by Roman Catholics during the era of the Penal Laws Ireland.

Both Roman Catholic and "Dissenter" such as Presbyterians and Methodists were discriminated against to varying degrees at the time.

This particular site was refurbished at some stage by the local community at Killeshin.

----------

Killeshin Waterworks, once called the Carlow Waterworks is now an Amenity Park.

Located in County Laois it once served neighbouring Carlow town with its water supply. It is set among quite panoramic and bucolic countryside and is well worth taking the time to visit.