Aghowle Church

The ancient church at Aghowle is associated with St Finnian (who died in 549), and he is supposed to have established a church at Aghowle before founding his more famous site at Clonard, Co. Meath. The name Aghowle derives from the Irish Achadh Abhall, meaning ‘field of the apple tree’. According to the Life of St Finnian, the Leinster king Muiredach mac Aengusa gave him a field where an apple tree stood, hence the name by which the church was subsequently known. At the site today there are the remains of a large church built about the middle of the 12th century. The door of the church is in the Romanesque tradition, but its style is unusual and echoes the form of doorways found in earlier Irish churches. There are also two little Romanesque windows at the east end of the church. Near the door of the church stands a granite high cross known as St Finden’s Cross. It is older than the present church ruins and was probably carved in the 10th century. Under the cross is a crude baptismal font, which may be one of the oldest examples in the country. Please note that many of these monuments may be on private land and may not be publicly accessible. When setting out to visit monuments please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear and clothing. Access to monuments without Visitor Services may be across uneven ground which may not be suitable for everyone and, in particular, wheelchair users.