RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - Offaly County Council

4.2 Statement of Significance4.0 ASSESSMENT and STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEThe monastic complex of Rahan is an historic place of international cultural significance for the followingreasons:n The Church of St Carthage at Rahan is a building that has been a place of Christian worshipfor the majority of its history from the twelfth century to the present day. The building fabricreveals much about the changes to the church over that time with repairs and alterationsundertaken at key periods.n Rahan Monastery has been a place of sacred worship for over 1500 years. The size of themonastic enclosure suggests that this was a place of high status and a focus for settlement inthe region. The lack of development and ground disturbance within the enclosure contributesto the sense of place and enhances the cultural significance of the monastery.n The plan of the Romanesque church with two small side-chapels or porticus to the north andsouth of the chancel is unique in Ireland and may contribute to the future understanding ofthe development of the Christian church in Western Europe. This unique ground plan maydemonstrate a link between Rahan and the Anglo-Saxon church.n The circular Romanesque window with its vivid carvings is unique in Ireland and is ofinternational importance in the corpus of European Romanesque circular windows.n The quality and condition of the capitals of the chancel arch make them some of the finestRomanesque stone carvings in Ireland.n The quality of the carving and condition of the west doorway of the smaller church along withits windows makes it one of the most important buildings in the region. Collectively the twochurches represent a place of international cultural significance.n The results of the geophysical survey indicate the survival of a substantial amount of subsurfacearchaeology, which is due to the lack of ground disturbance and development within themonastic enclosure of Rahan. This concealed archaeology has the potential to reveal much moreabout the site than is currently known.Plate 50 and 51. Side views of carved faces on the angles of the capitals of the chancel arch.Plate 52. Detail of decorative carving on the capital of the chancel arch.57