Calling on the people from Abbeyleix and the Ballinakill area, or indeed any other interested people to come together as a community and try and save a Medieval Church and graveyard from deteriorating further and possibly collapsing altogether.
Clonkeen Church and graveyard in the parish of Abbeyleix is possibly one of the only graveyards in the Country that does not have a committee in place to look after its best interests. This Church is steeped in history, founded in the year 600 A,D. and re founded again in the 1400s. Search for Abbeyleix Clonkeen on You-Tube for its history that we posted. We have an Archaeological report on the proposed conservation project, Catherine Casey Heritage Officer from Laois County Council visited the site on the 18/05/2021. her observations of the Church are in line with the Archaeologist in that its critically important that work needs to commence A.S.A.P. before a storm or a heavy fall of snow would undoubtedly collapse the walls of the Church. Both gable ends of the Church are top heavy with Ive growing along side them threatening there stability. The people in the parish of Abbeyleix, and the Ballinakill area cannot allow this to happen. The past needs to be preserved for the future.
You can PM myself Noel on Facebook or JG Carroll Abbeyleix for further information.
Clonkeen Church _ Graveyard
