Aghaviller
Encyclopedia
Aghaviller National Monument
, is a church and round tower
in County Kilkenny
, Ireland
.
Aghaviller gives its name to the wider townland, civil parish, and electoral district.
Located south-east of Kilkenny
, about six miles south of Thomastown
near Knocktopher
.
call it Achadh-biorair (Ahabirrer), meaning the field of watercresses. refers to Agha-oillir, meaning field of the pilgrim.
.
The Statistical Survey of 1802, by makes reference to tower. description of the tower; "A fifth tower stood at Aghaviller, (probably Agha-oillir, field of the pilgrim) the lower part only remains; above the foundation it measured fifty feet round; beneath this, it has a circular base, projecting six inches, and fourteen inches high, resting on a square foundation; that at Kilree is built in the same way, as the others probably are: this tower is peculiar by having a door-way even with the ground, and apparently co-eval with the building; this door way is five feet one inch high, two feet nine inches wide at top, and from two to three feet wide at bottom: internal diameter of the building, eight feet ten inches, wall four feet thick, two courses remain for floors, and part of a third story with a small window: on the first, an old floor is remembered to have stood about forty years ago. The first story within, is twelve feet high; without, it is thirteen feet to the old door way, which this had, like others, opening to the first floor, but which has been modernly walled up. The tower stands twenty feet to the S. of the foundation of the old church and at the S. W. angle; it is built of siliceous breccia." gives Henry O'Neill's description of the tower.O'Neill's description of the tower from the ; "The pillar tower is fifty-one feet in circumference at the base; hence the diameter is sixteen feet two inches. There are two doorways; one at the ground level, of cut stone, rectangular, with places for hanging-irons; a small bolt hole and a rabate are on the inside; it is five feet two inches high by two feet ten and a half inches wide and looks N.E. The other doorway, and in all probability the original one is about 13 feet up from the ground to the door-still. The higher and narrow that on one below, and looks north. A rectangular open, of dressed stone, is situated at about twenty-seven feet up; it may be three feet high by two wide; its aspect is S.S.W. The tower terminates a few feet above this open, begin only a dilapidated stump." "At about twelve, and twenty-six feet high, from the ground level, there are, on the inside, bearing-courses made of flag-stones about six inches thick and projecting four inches- the wall above them recesses for a short way. The inside of the tower is rather rough, but on the outside , where not weathered, the wall is very smooth, of excellent stone, carefully spawned, and dressed to the curve." "If this pillar-tower had originally the usual proportions of such building, it was in all probability at least on hundred and ten feet high."
It is one of five round towers located around the county, others include St. Canice's, Tullohern, Kilree and Fertagh. The tower is different from many round towers as it has two doors. Nearby is a holy well and Castlemorres Demesne.
of Aghaviller contained the townlands of Aghaviller, Ballinteskin, Ballinva, Barnadown, Bartonsfarm, Boolyglass, Brownstown, Carrickmerlin, Castlemorris, Catstown, Coalpitparks, Condonstown, Croan, Hugginstown, Kingsmountain or Mylerstown, Kyleva, Mabbotstown, Mylerstown or Kingsmountain, Newmarket and Westmoreland.
of Aghaviller is in the Roman Catholic Parish of Aghaviller (Earliest Record: b. Oct 1847; m. Feb 1848. ), and part is in the Roman Catholic Ballyhale
Parish (Earliest Record: b. Aug 1823; m. 1876 ). It was included within the union of Knocktopher, or Ballyhale. Ballyhale was part of Aghaviller Catholic parish prior to September 1847.
National Monument (Ireland)
The Irish state has officially approved the following List of National Monuments of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, a structure or site may be deemed to be a "National Monument", and therefore worthy of state protection, if it is of national importance...
, is a church and round tower
Irish round tower
Irish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Aghaviller gives its name to the wider townland, civil parish, and electoral district.
Located south-east of Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, about six miles south of Thomastown
Thomastown
-Landmarks:Kilfane Glen is a restored historic 1790s garden of romantic era with waterfall, woodland walks and cottage orne. The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage garden and was awarded assistance in 1993 by the European Union Cultural Commission...
near Knocktopher
Knocktopher
Knocktopher is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is situated on the M9 between the villages of Stoneyford to the north, and Ballyhale to the south....
.
Etymology
The Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
call it Achadh-biorair (Ahabirrer), meaning the field of watercresses. refers to Agha-oillir, meaning field of the pilgrim.
Church and tower
A few yards of the site of the old church, is the remains of the lower part of an ancient round tower of brecciaBreccia
Breccia is a rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, that can be either similar to or different from the composition of the fragments....
.
The Statistical Survey of 1802, by makes reference to tower. description of the tower; "A fifth tower stood at Aghaviller, (probably Agha-oillir, field of the pilgrim) the lower part only remains; above the foundation it measured fifty feet round; beneath this, it has a circular base, projecting six inches, and fourteen inches high, resting on a square foundation; that at Kilree is built in the same way, as the others probably are: this tower is peculiar by having a door-way even with the ground, and apparently co-eval with the building; this door way is five feet one inch high, two feet nine inches wide at top, and from two to three feet wide at bottom: internal diameter of the building, eight feet ten inches, wall four feet thick, two courses remain for floors, and part of a third story with a small window: on the first, an old floor is remembered to have stood about forty years ago. The first story within, is twelve feet high; without, it is thirteen feet to the old door way, which this had, like others, opening to the first floor, but which has been modernly walled up. The tower stands twenty feet to the S. of the foundation of the old church and at the S. W. angle; it is built of siliceous breccia." gives Henry O'Neill's description of the tower.O'Neill's description of the tower from the ; "The pillar tower is fifty-one feet in circumference at the base; hence the diameter is sixteen feet two inches. There are two doorways; one at the ground level, of cut stone, rectangular, with places for hanging-irons; a small bolt hole and a rabate are on the inside; it is five feet two inches high by two feet ten and a half inches wide and looks N.E. The other doorway, and in all probability the original one is about 13 feet up from the ground to the door-still. The higher and narrow that on one below, and looks north. A rectangular open, of dressed stone, is situated at about twenty-seven feet up; it may be three feet high by two wide; its aspect is S.S.W. The tower terminates a few feet above this open, begin only a dilapidated stump." "At about twelve, and twenty-six feet high, from the ground level, there are, on the inside, bearing-courses made of flag-stones about six inches thick and projecting four inches- the wall above them recesses for a short way. The inside of the tower is rather rough, but on the outside , where not weathered, the wall is very smooth, of excellent stone, carefully spawned, and dressed to the curve." "If this pillar-tower had originally the usual proportions of such building, it was in all probability at least on hundred and ten feet high."
It is one of five round towers located around the county, others include St. Canice's, Tullohern, Kilree and Fertagh. The tower is different from many round towers as it has two doors. Nearby is a holy well and Castlemorres Demesne.
Civil Parish
In 1851 the Civil parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Aghaviller contained the townlands of Aghaviller, Ballinteskin, Ballinva, Barnadown, Bartonsfarm, Boolyglass, Brownstown, Carrickmerlin, Castlemorris, Catstown, Coalpitparks, Condonstown, Croan, Hugginstown, Kingsmountain or Mylerstown, Kyleva, Mabbotstown, Mylerstown or Kingsmountain, Newmarket and Westmoreland.
Roman Catholic Parish
Part of civil parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Aghaviller is in the Roman Catholic Parish of Aghaviller (Earliest Record: b. Oct 1847; m. Feb 1848. ), and part is in the Roman Catholic Ballyhale
Ballyhale
Ballyhale is a village in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is south of the city of Kilkenny, roughly half way between Kilkenny and Waterford. The Parish of Ballyhale is made up of three parts; Knockmoylan and the villages of Ballyhale and Knocktopher....
Parish (Earliest Record: b. Aug 1823; m. 1876 ). It was included within the union of Knocktopher, or Ballyhale. Ballyhale was part of Aghaviller Catholic parish prior to September 1847.
See also
- List of National Monuments in County Kilkenny
- List of National Monuments in Ireland