Derrynaflan Church | |
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Native name Irish: Teampall Dhoire na bhFlann | |
![]() The site in January 2022. | |
Type | church |
Location | Lurgoe, Littleton Bog, County Tipperary, Ireland |
Coordinates | 52°35′50″N 7°44′02″W / 52.597318°N 7.733818°W |
Elevation | 139 m (456 ft) |
Built | 11th–13th century AD |
Architectural style(s) | Romanesque, Gothic |
Official name | Derrynaflan Church |
Reference no. | 335 |
Derrynaflan Church is a Medieval church and National Monument located in County Tipperary, Ireland.[1][2][3]
Derrynaflan Church is located on an "island" in Littleton bog, located 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) south of Littleton.[4]
The monastery at Derrynaflan ("Oak grove of the Flanns"; formerly Daire Eidnech, "ivied oak grove") was founded by Ruadhán of Lorrha in the 6th century AD. It came under the patronage of the King-Bishops of Cashel. It was an important culdee centre, but went into decline after Fedelmid mac Crimthainn died in AD 846. Only the enclosure survives.
The surviving stone church is a pre-Norman cell with a chancel later added.[citation needed]
A Franciscan community existed at Derrynaflan between 1676 and 1717.[citation needed]
It is famous as the discovery site of the Derrynaflan Hoard of gold and silver objects of the 8th–9th century.[5][6][7]
A stone slab found on the site (now in the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology) is inscribed OR DOAN MAIN DVBSCVLL, "a prayer for the soul of Dubscuile."[8]
A pre-Norman single-celled church without antae. The east, north and south walls of the chancel with five windows and the foundations of the nave survive.
There is also a ring barrow and medieval cemetery. To the northeast is a burial site, supposedly that of the legendary Gobán Saor.[9]