Derrynaflan Church

Derrynaflan Church is a medieval church and National Monument located in County Tipperary, Ireland.^[1][2][3]

Derrynaflan Church
Native name Teampall Dhoire na bhFlann (Irish)
The site in January 2022.
Type	church
Location	Lurgoe, Littleton Bog, County Tipperary, Ireland
Coordinates	52.597318°N 7.733818°W / 52.597318; -7.733818
Elevation	139 m (456 ft)
Built	11th–13th century AD
Architectural style(s)	Romanesque, Gothic
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Derrynaflan Church
Reference no.	335
Location of Derrynaflan Church in Ireland

Location

Derrynaflan Church is located on an "island" in Littleton bog, located 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) south of Littleton.^[4]

History

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]

Description

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]