Tullylease Church

A monastery was founded here by the English exile St Berechert in the 7th century. Subsequently, in the 12th century, it housed an Augustinian monastery. The name is Irish for "uncovered hillock."

It was mentioned at the 1111 Synod of Ráth Breasail which established the diocese boundaries of Munster.

The see of Luimneach, the Maoilchearn eastward, Ath ar Choinne, Lodan and Loch Gair, and the Laitheach Mhor from Aine westward, and Ard Padraig to the south and Bealach Feabhradh and Tulach Leis, the Feil westward and Tairbeart and Cuinche in Thomond, and Crossa in Sliabh Uidhe an Riogh and the Dubhabhann. Whoever shall go against these boundaries goes against the Lord and Peter the Apostle and St. Patrick and his comhorba and the Christian Church. And the Church of Mary in Luimneach is its principal church.^[4]

The present ruins date from various periods. Part of the east wall is from the 12th century, while the chancel dates back to the 15th century. There is also an 8th-century inscribed cross slab, dedicated to St Berechert.^[5]

Beretchert’s eighth-century inscribed cross slab gravestone there reads quicumque hunc titulu legerit orat pro Berechtuine, "whoever reads this please pray for Berechert". The incised cross is remarkably similar to an illustration in the Book of Lindisfarne. The Ardagh Chalice, discovered just fifteen miles northwest of Tullylease, also shares Lindisfarne stylization.