placenamesTemplemichael
Teampall Michíl
Archaeological testing and a church bicentenary document different parts of this Cork district’s past.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Teampall Michíl · Irish · main form · validated name
- Templemichael · English · main form
Place & story
The moated enclosure at Rigsdale
Rigsdale contains a medieval moated enclosure measuring about thirty-eight by thirty metres. Margaret McCarthy’s 2000 report summarises earlier excavation there: a hall-like building with stone footings, post-holes and hearths lay inside the earthwork. An Edward I penny dated 1279–80 was found beneath its southern bank, providing evidence for dating that construction. [2]
Testing outside the enclosure
McCarthy’s own testing examined a proposed house site beside the monument. A broad ditch and a possible cultivation furrow appeared in the proposed access areas, while the house footprint produced no archaeological features. The developer’s engineer agreed to retain ground levels over the identified remains. The distinction between the occupied enclosure and its surroundings was important to protecting the evidence. [2]
Ballyheada’s bicentenary
Sacred Heart Church at Ballyheada celebrated its bicentenary on 17 June 2023. The diocesan report records parish singers and musicians, a historical talk by John L. O’Sullivan and Bishop Fintan Gavin unveiling a commemorative plaque. He also blessed a restored Mass Path cross. These are documented commemorations of the church’s history, without establishing the cross’s original date. [3]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Templemichael. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- 2000:0151 Rigsdale, licence00E0695 · Margaret McCarthy, Archaeological Services Unit, University College Cork
- Bicentenary of Ballyheada Church is Celebrated,23June2023 · Diocese of Cork and Ross, original event report
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.