The completion of this conservation plan for the Church of St. Carthage and its well-preserved, early monastic setting fulfils one of the aims of the Offaly Heritage Plan 2007-2011. It was commissioned by Offaly County Council and carried out by Howley Hayes Architects in association with Caimin O’Brien, archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, which is a section of the National Monuments Service. The objective of the Heritage Plan is to assess the cultural significance of the place, to identify threats to this significance and to formulate policies to address these threats to ensure the successful preservation and long-term management of this important cultural landscape.
Author(s): Amanda Pedlow, Labhaoise McKenna, Emma Philbin-Bowman (eds.)
Publisher: Howley Hayes Architects
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 88
City: Tullamore
Acknowledgements 9
Foreword 10
Preface 11
Location map 12
1. INTRODUCTION 14
1.1 The Site 14
1.2 Background and Approach 14
1.3 Aims and Objectives 15
1.4 Project Team 15
1.5 Stakeholders 15
1.6 Sources 16
1.7 Consultation 16
1.8 Placenames 16
1.9 Architectural Plans 18
2. UNDERSTANDING THE PLACE 26
2.1 Historical Development 26
Early History 26
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century 29
Eighteenth Century 29
Nineteenth Century 30
Twentieth Century Restoration 32
Twenty-first Century Repairs 37
3. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 39
3.1 Sub-surface Archaeology 39
Monastic Enclosure and Earthworks 39
3.2 Above Ground Archaeology 40
Church of St Carthage 40
Suggested Building Works for the Church of St Carthage 44
Small Church 46
Site of Third Church 47
Rahan Castle 47
Tower House 47
Early Christian Cross-Slabs 49
Loose Sculpture – Romanesque Scalloped Capital 49
Seventeenth Century Graveslabs 49
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Memorials 49
Standing Stone and/or Pillar Stone 49
Graveyard and Graveyard Wall 49
3.3 Artefacts Associated with the Site 50
Sheela-na-Gig 50
The Book of Rahan 50
Saxon Coin Hoard 51
Bullaun Stones 51
Whetstone, Knife and Copper Mount 51
Casts of Circular Window and Columns of Chancel Arch 51
3.4 Ecology 52
3.5 Folklore 53
The Bell of Mochuda 53
Expulsion of St Carthage 53
Martyrology of Oengus 53
4. ASSESSMENT and STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 54
4.1 Assessment of Significance 54
Archaeological Significance 54
Historical Significance 54
Architectural Significance 54
Artistic Significance 55
Social and Spiritual Significance 55
4.2 Statement of Significance 57
5. DEFINING THE ISSUES and ASSESSING VULNERABILITY 60
5.1 Ownership 60
5.2 Statutory Protection 60
5.3 Condition of Historic Fabric 61
5.4 Use 62
5.5 Access 62
5.6 Resources 62
6. CONSERVATION POLICIES 63
6.1 General approach 63
6.2 Use 63
6.3 Access 63
6.4 Church of St. Carthage 64
6.5 Small Church and Tower House 66
6.6 Church of Ireland graveyard 67
6.7 Ecology 68
6.8 Maintenance 68
6.9 Monitoring 69
6.10 Interpretation 69
LIST OF IMAGES 70
BIBLIOGRAPHY 72
ABBREVIATIONS 74
APPENDICES 75
Appendix 1. Definitions outlined in the Burra Charter 75
Appendix 2. Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Descriptions of Rahan 76
Appendix 3. Rahan — Timeline of Historical Events 84
Appendix 4. New Parish of Fir Chell 86
Appendix 5. Explanation of historical documents referred to in the Conservation Plan 86
Appendix 6. Martyrology of Rahan 89
Appendix 7. Table of Archaeological Monuments in Rahan and their listing in the Sites and Monuments Record for Co. Offaly (SMR) 89
ENDNOTES 90
