Templenaboe is the Irish for "Church of the Cows". The ruins of this church mark the outline of the building that was very small. It measures about 8.50 metres of length and 5 metres of width. The maximum height of the walls is just 1.20 metres behind the altar, a stone parallelepiped which measures 1.70 metres by 70 centimetres and 70 centimetres of height, on the southeast (110°) wall. It was founded by St. Moling, second bishop of Ferns, in the 7th century in thankgiving for the remission of the Borumean Tribute, an oppressive levy that the people of Leinster had to pay every two years to the High Kings in Tara for about 500 years. The tax consisted of 5,000 hogs, 5,000 cows, 5,000 vessels of brass and bronze and 5,000 ounces of silver. After about 500 years of oppression, St. Moling obtained the remission of this levy. Unbaptised babies were buried at this place. St. Moling died in 696 and is celebrated on June 17th, when a mass is held here annually.
|