RAHAN MONASTIC SITE - Offaly County Council

CONTENTSAcknowledgements 9Foreword 10Preface 11Location map 121. INTRODUCTION 141.1 The Site 141.2 Background and Approach 141.3 Aims and Objectives 151.4 Project Team 151.5 Stakeholders 151.6 Sources 161.7 Consultation 161.8 Placenames 161.9 Architectural Plans 182. UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE 262.1 Historical Development 26Early History 26Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century 29Eighteenth Century 29Nineteenth Century 30Twentieth Century Restoration 32Twenty-first Century Repairs 373. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 393.1 Sub-surface Archaeology 39Monastic Enclosure and Earthworks 393.2 Above Ground Archaeology 40Church of St Carthage 40Suggested Building Worksfor the Church of St Carthage 44Small Church 46Site of Third Church 47Rahan Castle 47Tower House 47Early Christian Cross-Slabs 49Loose Sculpture –Romanesque Scalloped Capital 49Seventeenth Century Graveslabs 49Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Memorials 49Standing Stone and/or Pillar Stone 49Graveyard and Graveyard Wall 493.3 Artefacts Associated with the Site 50Sheela-na-Gig 50The Book of Rahan 50Saxon Coin Hoard 51Bullaun Stones 51Whetstone, Knife and Copper Mount 51Casts of Circular Windowand Columns of Chancel Arch 513.4 Ecology 523.5 Folklore 53The Bell of Mochuda 53Expulsion of St Carthage 53Martyrology of Oengus 53