If you have never heard of historic Dunmanogue in Kildare I would not be surprised. I came across in by chance, I saw a report that the local people had been awarded E110,762 in 2022 to develop the site. The national ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme offers grants to encourage communities to be involved in the conservation and interpretation of their local heritages. Dunmanogue’s project was one of five approved.
When I went online to find out more about Dunmanogue I got little information beyond that it is said to have been founded by Finnian of Clonard on land given to him by the King of Leinster. If I wanted to know more I would have to go there myself and find it.
What I saw was not very helpful, a ruin in a disused cemetery in the middle of a ploughed field. There were no helpful signs and a locked gate had to be negotiated. On getting there I could see efforts had been made recently to clear the undergrowth and put some order to the site.
I looked for clues of its origin. An early Irish monastic site should show a connection with a recognised saint. The name ‘Dunmanogue ‘ indicates a fort (Dun) rather than a cell/church (Kil) and I could find no mention of a saint named ‘Manogue’.
Neither was there a holy well, sacred tree, cross or buallan stone, other indicators of a genuine early monastic site. The graveyard does have an oval shape, as most monasteries had, but that was common in burial places too.
The church ruins themselves are quite sturdy, even modern, though older foundations could be buried beneath.
I concluded that Dunmanogue was a local church attached to a monastery, rather than a functioning monastic community, and had served the people of the area for centuries before being reduced to a cemetery.
I emailed the local historical society (in Castledermot) to enquire about the result of their investigation but no repose so far. In the meantime I would welcome any information you might have.
The national ‘Adopt a Monument Scheme’ seems to be a good idea and I hope to visit more of their heritage sites.
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