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Church ruins, bullán stone, and
stone crosses (500- 1600AD) Local tradition records that the well an early monastic site. Typically,

was blessed by St. Aidan and his feast these sites were enclosed by an
The medieval period in Ireland began day is the 31st January. Maura Carty earthen bank within which the first
around 500 A.D and the latter part who was one of the oldest surviving timber churches were built. There

of this century saw the beginnings inhabitants in Preban remembers that are the ruins of a stone church at
of extensive missionary activity in people would go to the well nine days Preban which may date to the 12th
Ireland. St Patrick is the best known on a row before the feast of the saint century based on the architectural
of the early missionaries. This was and that people would tie red rags fragments which lie among the
a time of massive social change as to a hawthorn tree which still grows headstones. This church may have
pagans were converted to the new beside the well. When the rags rotted replaced an earlier wooden one.

and soon to be dominant religion. away so did the disease or illness. The remains of a church are located
As monastic centres became more in the northwest corner of the site
predominant after the 8th century The association with St Aidan comprising low stony banks which
the newly established church indicates that Preban may have been measures c.12m x 4m.
encouraged communities to bury

their dead in consecrated ground.
Prior to this the dead were buried in
familial burial grounds.

Little is known about the early history
of the Irish church and this is also
true in the case of Preban. However,

a holy well located 120m west of the
graveyard indicates the early origins
of the site. This holy well is dedicated
to St Aidan, who was the first bishop
of Ferns around 570 AD. Saint Aidan

was known for performing many
miracles including making a beautiful
stag invisible so that he wouldn’t be
attacked by hounds.

Photo of Saint Aidan from Annacurra Church.

Photo of ruined Preban Church.

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