We landed at the Dublin airport at 5:30 AM, tired as hell and we made our way to the rental car facility and picked up our rental car. Next came the challenge of fitting our luggage in the back of the car. There’s always that moment of fill it or wont it fit when you are travelling with 4 or more people. Fortunately, we were able to fit it all in in fact, late Mike discover there was a spare tire under the bottom lid, and that a carry-on bag would fir in there. So, we had plenty room.
Being the only one that had driven on the left side of the road, I had the privilege of being the driver one day one. I had made a short itinerary for day one, and after pairing my phone with the car, we plugged in our first attraction Oughaval Church, and hit the road. I was quickly reminded how much narrower Irish roads are, but after about an hour and 40 minutes we arrived at our destination. The gate was open, so we started to explore the grounds. For some reason I have an affinity for religious ruins, so I was in my element.
To give you some information about the church I asked ChatGPT to give me a couple of paragraphs about Oughaval Church.
Oughaval Church, located in County Laois, Ireland, is a site of historical and cultural significance dating back to early Christianity. This small, ruined church is set within a serene woodland, providing an atmospheric glimpse into Ireland’s religious history. Built on the site of an ancient monastic settlement, Oughaval Church is believed to be associated with St. Colman of Oughaval, who founded the monastic community in the 6th century. The church’s remains reveal traditional Irish stonework, with ivy-covered walls and a simple rectangular layout that offers a beautiful, though faded, reminder of early Christian architecture in Ireland.
Surrounding the church are remnants of old grave markers and a circular stone enclosure, thought to be part of the original monastic boundary. The site is especially significant for its ogham stone, a relic inscribed with Ireland’s ancient script, found nearby and now preserved in the National Museum. Set against the backdrop of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Oughaval Church continues to attract visitors interested in Irish heritage and the contemplative beauty of ancient monastic sites.
