2024:478 - Churchlands, Lemanaghan, Offaly

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during conservation and associated works at the site of Lemanaghan castle, Co. Offaly (OF015-004001-). The works took place between September and October 2024 and were undertaken following a successful application to the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) for funding to undertake conservation on this historically significant monument, which was unfortunately largely demolished in 1959. Both archaeological monitoring and conservation works were undertaken under Ministerial Consent C001385 (Works No. W000728 Archaeological Registration No. E005719).

Lemanaghan castle is of late fifteenth- or early sixteenth-century date tower-house. Today only the south-west angle survives, although a now lost two-centred punch-dressed doorway of late medieval date was recorded at the site in recent times. A Sheela-na-Gig is also thought to have belonged to the castle but is now also lost. The castle is located only c. 80m from the major early medieval monastery founded by St. Manchán in the seventh century; this monastic complex contains, amongst numerous other features, a multi-period church (with a Romanesque doorway and several early Christian cross-slabs) a rectangular building that possibly served as a later medieval priest’s house, a holy well, a possible oratory or hermitage and associated togher and an early medieval monastic enclosure. Several significant artefacts have also been uncovered close to the site, or are associated with the ecclesiastical site of Lemanghan, not least the twelfth-century St Manchan’s Shrine that is currently housed in Boher’s Catholic Church, Ballycumber, Co. Offaly.

The remains of Lemanaghan castle are in poor condition, with only the lower coursing of a single corner remaining. Prior to works this corner was heavily overgrown with ivy. The  conservation works included: removal of ivy, lifting and resetting the wall top, repointing and consolidation of exposed core masonry. These works hoped to secure the surviving historic masonry for the long-term, with the surviving remains in danger of further deterioration without intervention. Archaeological monitoring of these works, including inspection of raked-out mortars, was undertaken. Monitoring commenced on 17 September 2024 . During the course of the monitoring no archaeological artefacts were recorded and no new architectural features were uncovered. All works at the site concluded on 16 October 2024.