The Standing Stone: Clonaslee, Cross Slabs, Co. Laois.

Original article can be found here.


Location – In Clonaslee, N of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 in the grounds of the RC church.
OS: N 318 112 (map 54)
Longitude: 7° 31' 28.71" W
Latitude: 53° 9' 1.4" N
See map at the bottom of the page.

Description and History – These two cross slabs are somewhat disappointing. I have no doubt that they were once spectacular and a clear rival to those cross slabs at Clonenagh, also in Laois. However, they are severely damaged. The damage does not obscure them completely but their poor location does. They have been located against a white washed wall outside a modern church and are set in concrete and tarmac and form part of a parking space. I do not know how much damage is being done to these slabs with car doors slamming into them every day of the week.  They are rectangular in shape and are sandstone with simple cross inscribed designs. There was a third slab but this has now been lost. If you have an interest in cross slabs go and see these before it is too late.

Difficulty – There are a couple of churches in Clonaslee so it took me a while to locate them. Plenty of parking.

For more ecclesiastical sites, click here.
For more sites in Co. Laois, click here.

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Mass in Borris for the Pope's Birthday

For only the second year our Association had the blessing of an opportunity to celebrate the Birthday and Anniversary of the Election of the Pope by organising the celebration of Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Last year it was St. Andrew's Church, Bagenalstown. This year we had the privilege to be in another of the 'Churches that got away' the beautiful Church of the Sacred Heart, Borris, Co. Carlow. However, because of the way the Church was modified in recent decades the Mass had to be celebrated at the beautiful side Altar of Our Lady.

Strawberry Hill in Kildare and Leighlin - Staplestown

You may have considered, having looked at the first few posts of this series, that Strawberry Hill Gothick in Kildare and Leighlin is confined to the Sanctuary wall. If so, well spotted. The delicate and elaborate tracery required for the Gothick was ill-adapted to the means of the Irish country parish. Another example of this confinement of the Gothick is the Parish Church of St. Benignus, Staplestown, Co. Kildare. In Staplestown, the confinement of the Gothick goes even further. In the examples in this series so far, the fabric of the Church has been in a more virile Gothic but here, as you can see from the stained glass, and the clear glass, windows, the basic form of the Church (and basic is the word) is a rounded roman classical style. I've been accused of ignoring crude eclecticism in this series. I intend to continue to overlook it, except to say that I don't think the effect is altogether unpleasing, once you can overlook modern reordering.

Strangely, Bishop Comerford makes no mention of this Church in Vol. 2 of his Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin, although it would have been in the Parish of Clane at the time. However, the Church is reputedly c. 1790, which would make it one of the oldest Churches still in use in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Certainly, it is depicted on an 1838 Ordinance Survey map.

The Kildare County Council Village Design Statement describes it thus: "Detached five-bay Catholic Church, built c.1840. Remaining historic fabric includes cut-stone bellcote, cast-iron rainwater goods stone window sills, timber sash windows with fanlight heads. The full-height interior open roof and Hindu Gothic style plasterwork reredos to altar with marble altar fittings and cast-iron gateway and railings are also notable.

"Saint Benignus's Catholic Church is a fine, church that is composed on a simple plan with simple elevations. The church retains much of its original aspect and many original features and materials remain in situ."

Mind you the fate of Kildare's physical heritage is just as safe in the hands of the folks who invented "Hindu Gothic" as it is in the hands of the folks who brought us the no less accurate "re-ordering in line with the directives of Vatican II"!!!

The Standing Stone: Kilbride, Church, Co. Offaly.

Original article can be found here.


Location – Along the banks of the canal, W of Tullamore.
OS: N 304 253 (map 48)
Longitude: 7° 32' 36.66" W
Latitude: 53° 16' 39.11" N
GPS: N 30447 25340 (Accuracy – 6m)
See map at the bottom of the page.

Description and History – There is little left of this canal side church but it boasts a long history. A church was originally located here in the 8th century when Irish monks were establishing many communities in the area. The present structure is late medieval and may not have had a long period of usage as the Penal Laws brought an end to Catholic worship here as it did to many other churches throughout Ireland. The present church is badly ruined and measures 16m x 7.5m. The E and W walls survive to full height but the N wall has collapsed in recent years destroying very fine Latin inscribed gravestone underneath it. The graveyard contains some very nice gravestones.

Difficulty – Easy to find on the canal side. Ample parking.

Recently collapsed section of wall.

I think this portion of wall will collapse soon.

There are some lovely late medieval grave stones here.

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Latin Mass in Duiske Abbey & Scapulars of Saint Joseph

On 31st March, 2012, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in the Gregorian Rite using the 1962 Missal in Duiske Abbey, Graignamanagh, Co. Kilkenny. It was a Requiem Mass for our deceased Chaplain, Fr. Desmond Flanagan, O.Carm. The Mass was celebrated by a Capuchin Priest. The Scapular of Saint Joseph (previously featured on this blog) was originally particular to the Capuchin Franciscan Order. After Mass, Scapulars of Saint Joseph were blessed and imposed upon those present. An account of the Mass organised by St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association in 2011 can be found here. Some background to the Abbey can be found here.