in use the water level was much higher meaning that approaching the defences was more difficult. The pattern of fortified settlement continues into the Iron Age. We also know that by this time the bogland around Monasterevin was fully formed. Traversing these areas would have been difficult but the importance of the fords on the Barrow meant that some solution had to be found. The equivalent of the M7 motorway was needed and indeed it was provided by what is known as "The Danes Road". It was built by laying large rough-hewn planks and a foundation of brushwood on boggy ground. This base spread the weight of the gravel layer on top, allowing the roads to be used by chariots. St. Brigid is said to have ordered the construction of such a road. Middle Ages Saint Abban of New Ross, a contemporary of Saint Patrick, established a monastic settlement by the banks of the River Barrow at Rosglas and gave it into the charge of his protégé Evin (Éimhín; the name is a diminutive of the adjective eimh "swift, active", Latinized Eminus). Saint Evin brought a number of monks with him from his native Munster. This gained the settlement the name Rosglos-na-Moinneach (the greenwood of the Munstermen). Saint Evin was politically astute; today he would be called a spin-doctor. He secured special status for the Monasterevin area placing it outside the common law, making it a sanctuary. His famous bell was used for swearing oaths and was much in demand by tribes of the region for guaranteeing peace treaties. St. Evin also co-authored the "Tripartite Life of St. Patrick". Other writing by Evin survives including the "Cain Emhin". Although St. Evin's monastery died out about the time of the Viking raids in Ireland, its importance continued. In 903 AD, the Battle of Ballaghmoon was fought for the ownership of the church. The next religious establishment on the site was in the 12th century when the Cistercian Abbey was founded under the patronage of Dermot O’Dempsey. This began a long connection with Mellifont in County Louth the Cistercian motherhouse overall Ireland and Baltinglass in County Wicklow, the motherhouse of Monasterevin. At this time the O’Dempseys were the rulers of the area, which was part of the territory of Clanmaliere. The O’Dempseys remained involved with the Abbey providing the last abbot in Monasterevin Hugh O’Dempsey. Once again the importance of Monasterevin as