Location – Right in the centre of Toomyvara, just off the N7. The ruin is located on a triangular island in the road with a grotto directly in front of it.
OS: R 977 776 (map 59)
Longitude: 8° 2' 2.91" W
Latitude: 52° 50' 57.78" N
See map at the bottom of the page.
Description and History – I’ve listed this as a church but there is actually some doubt as if that is correct. It is aligned E-W which indicates that it is actually a church. It has been suggested that it is a building associated with the nearby abbey and that they were both connected in a large graveyard that is now under the modern road. Nevertheless, there was a church on this site possibly going back to the 9th century and associated with St. Donan. There was a 9th/10th century graveslab located at this site but it is now lost unfortunately. A church is also mentioned in 1302 in the ecclesiastical taxation of the Diocese of Killaloe. The present remains however date to the late medieval period. The site has been somewhat of a guinea pig for cleanup projects so the site has been altered somewhat making it impossible to identify any genuine original architectural features. All the remains is an ivy covered wall approximately 25m in length and 4m high. There is a much modified arched doorway in the wall and a possible priest’s quarters at the rear of the site. The site is well maintained but feels like more of a garden ornament than a historical monument.
Difficulty – Really easy to get to and there is plenty of parking.
For more ecclesiastical sites, click here.
For more sites in Co. Tipperary, click here.
OS: R 977 776 (map 59)
Longitude: 8° 2' 2.91" W
Latitude: 52° 50' 57.78" N
See map at the bottom of the page.
Description and History – I’ve listed this as a church but there is actually some doubt as if that is correct. It is aligned E-W which indicates that it is actually a church. It has been suggested that it is a building associated with the nearby abbey and that they were both connected in a large graveyard that is now under the modern road. Nevertheless, there was a church on this site possibly going back to the 9th century and associated with St. Donan. There was a 9th/10th century graveslab located at this site but it is now lost unfortunately. A church is also mentioned in 1302 in the ecclesiastical taxation of the Diocese of Killaloe. The present remains however date to the late medieval period. The site has been somewhat of a guinea pig for cleanup projects so the site has been altered somewhat making it impossible to identify any genuine original architectural features. All the remains is an ivy covered wall approximately 25m in length and 4m high. There is a much modified arched doorway in the wall and a possible priest’s quarters at the rear of the site. The site is well maintained but feels like more of a garden ornament than a historical monument.
Difficulty – Really easy to get to and there is plenty of parking.
For more ecclesiastical sites, click here.
For more sites in Co. Tipperary, click here.
As you can see, it is well maintained.
The remaining window.
The much modified entrance.
View The Standing Stone in a larger map
