Attanagh Church is a three bay Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland structure built in 1821. It was dedicated to Saint Brigid and it replaced an earlier medieval church. It was renovated in 1860 when the tower, porch and vestry were added. Attanagh is a quiet village situated in County Laois but close to the Owenbeg River and the border with County Kilkenny. The graveyard has a large variety of 19th and 20th century headstones and grave markers. It is not clear when the church stopped being used for services and I can find marriage records dating up until 1972 so perhaps that is around the time of its decline. There is very little information available about this church but I did find an interesting story in the National Schools Collection on the Dóchas website where its stated that it may have more windows inside than outside, “There was an ancient church dedicated to St. Brigid taken down about 1820 and the present church is built now on its site. The East window has some of the stained glass taken from the window of the old church and has the date 1821 on it. There are windows outside the north side of the church which do not show on the inside. I asked Mrs. Wills, wife of the late Canon Wills about it one time and she thought it had something to do with the window tax. I am sure Canon Wills would have known, but I could not ask him as he died before I had to compile these notes. I was not satisfied about the reason being the window tax as I thought churches were taxed. It was in 1916 when I was first in Attanagh I noticed the windows and enquired about them.” Recorded by Teacher Mrs St Legier of Castledurrow Demesne, Co. Laois.
GPS: 52.83319, -7.34629