This unusual structure at Tullaroan in County Kilkenny is in fact two churches linked together built at different stages. The first being a 13th century structure with a nave and chancel orientated east to west, with a later chapel added onto the east of the south wall of the chancel and orientated east. Within this earlier structure there is a 13th century double cinquefoil sedilia, a sedilia being a seat for the members of the clergy carved into the wall, cinquefoil referring to its arch having five lobes. The south chapel was added in 1543 by Sir John Grace. The main doorway of this section has an elaborately moulded Tudor rose, vine-leaf and grape motif around a pointed arch head. Above the doorway is a carving of a lion which forms part of the coat of arms of the Grace family and the date of 1543. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. The churches and graveyard are dotted with a variety of tombs and stones, the earliest tomb within the churches dating from 1513. There are tombs and stones dedicated to the Grace family right up into the early 2000s which shows an ongoing legacy of that family in this area. One of the most interesting features of the graveyard is the mortsafe, a rarity in Ireland. Mortsafes came to prominence in the 18th century when the issue of bodysnatching from graves was a huge social problem, both for use as cadavers in medical schools but also for any grave goods or jewellery that may have been buried with the deceased. They were wrought iron and placed over the graves to protect the corpse, in Ireland watchtowers and watch-houses can be seen in several graveyards but it is rare to see a mortsafe especially one in such good condition.
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