RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - Offaly County Council

2.0 UNDERSTANDING THE PLACEjambs and are therefore pre-Norman, and that the twelfth century chancel arch may have been a later insertioninto the building. The walls and ceilings of the nave are described as being finished in ordinary smooth plaster,while the floor of the nave is described as being paved with stone slabs evidently laid on soil for they are alwaysdamp. 30 He also describes the roof of the chancel as being covered with stone laid in mortar and bedded directlyonto the stone vault, and notes that the original dressed stone facings had been salvaged and used elsewherefor repairs to this church and the ruined smaller church that stands a short distance to the northeast. Martindescribes these roof facings as being wrought squared stones 31 which probably refers to the diagonal pattern ofthe tool marks left by the stone masons axes.Plate 12. West face of chancel arch during conservation works.34