Above Image: Artist's impression of the monastic site
Above Image: Laneway entrance from road
Above Image: Graveyard entrance with stile
Above Image: Grave slab embedded in wall
Above Image: Ancient stone font
Above Image: Footprint marker stone
Above Image: The footprint in the stone.
Above Image: Aerial photo on display board showing graveyard
and ancient enclosure
Above Image: 1798 rebellion memorial
Lullymore, basking in the backwaters of Kildare. A quiet bucolic spot but with plenty of history about it. When I first heard of "St. Patrick's footprint" the engine of the car was already running in anticipation and so on a bright warm day in early may we aimed straight for this site in the lovely county of the Lilywhites.
We understood that the said "footprint" was located in Lullymore East graveyard which in itself is the centre of a huge ancient enclosure which is still partly in evidence by way of surrounding ditches that have been excavated.
When St. Patrick came to Ireland he visited the area of Lullymore and following the conversion of the pagan druid Erc to Christianity he instructed his new convert to found a monastery for scholars which Erc then set about building on an ancient pagan henge that had been familiar to him. The melding of the old ways with the new it would seem.
This monastery founded in the 5th century became quite significant and was sited on an inland island of fertile land 93m above sea level. It was completely surrounded by the peatland of the Bog of Allen making it difficult to attack. But eventually it did fall foul of assailants and came to an end in the late medieval period. The lands were confiscated and came under the ownership of the Earl of Kildare in 1641. Today only remnants from the monastery era remain. No ecclesiastical structures are extant at the site.
When we arrived at the small junction that has a laneway leading up to the graveyard we found the lane was blocked by a large metal gate and some CCTV warning signs were clearly displayed. Not to be put off by this we crossed to the Bog of Allen heritage centre and were advised there that the gate is unlocked and just to "close it after you" So with spirits renewed we followed the instuctions and drove up a long gravel track right to the boundary wall of the graveyard.
We accessed the enclosure by way of an unlocked metal gate although there was a formidable stile available as well.
After a circuit of the interior we came across an ancient font which was a remnant from an early church and now has a permenant position in the graveyard but there was no sign of the "footprint."
We did find embedded in the graveyard wall to the left of the entrance gate one of thirteen known grave markers that existed in the monastery. Eight more are in the wall of a monument back at the entrance to the heritage centre. The final four are lost to the sands of time.
Puzzled by the absence of the rock containing the footprint we eventually searched outside of the graveyard and found it in a small railed area a few yards back along the track. There is a monument beside it detailing its history. Indeed the graveyard also has a detailed board displaying historical info and photos. The said footprint is a foot shaped depression in the top of a large rounded rock and to all intents and ourposes it resembles a bullaun stone as rainwater collects within it.
The only area inaccessible to the public is the adjacent ditch excavation area which is on private property populated by a herd of enthusiastic cows.
Back to the footprint. On measuring our feet against it, it appears to be a size 6!
Outside on the main road opposite the laneway to the graveyard is a memorial to the 1798 rebellion and the significant involvement in it of Captain John Doorly, a Lullymore native. We checked and indeed eight grave slabs have been incorporated into a crescent shaped wall behind the monument stone. The site at Lullymore is well worth a visit and you could also incorporate a visit to the brilliant Bog of Allen heritage centre.
To find Lullymore graveyard take the junction 9a exit from the M7 heading on the R407 for Clane. Follow the signs for 8KM until you enter Clane. In the town take the left hand turn opposite the old church onto the R403. Drive approx. 11KM through the villages of Prosperous and Allenwood. About 1KM further from Allenwood take a left hand turn over a stone bridge crossing the canal onto the R414 signposted for Rathangan. Drive along this road for approx. 3.5KM and you will reach Lullymore. Watch out for a long grey single storey building on your right with a sign for the Bog of Allen nature centre. The laneway to the graveyard is opposite the end of this building. You can park at the gate and take a walk (about 500m) or drive up to the graveyard remembering to close the gate after you on entry and exit. The property here belongs to Lullymore farms ltd.
GPS 53.274995 -6.935464
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