Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, surrounded by diamond-shaped enclosure. Rectangular church (13.3m E-W; 7.3m N-S) with steeply pitched gables, built of shaly sandstone. East gable (wall Wth 0.65m) largely collapsed; base of splayed embrasure for central window survives (Wth 1.75m). South wall has wall press close to E end and gap (L 3.2m) 0.55m to its W. North wall featureless, gap (L 3.3m) at E end. West gable has central window embrasure, light missing, directly over gap in wall at ground level (Wth 1.85m), presumably remains of doorway. Massive quoins at SE corner, robbed elsewhere; all other cut stone missing, though fragment of limestone sill for mullioned two-light window lies close to SE corner. Enclosure defined by low bank to NE, steep drop down to stream (1.3m) to E and SE, very low bank to S and SW, and by bank planted with mature trees with external drain (ext. H 1.8m) to NW. Shown as part of extensive belt of woodland on 1842, 1904 and 1936 OS 6-inch maps, not marked as graveyard. No sign of gravemarkers, but Grove White (1905-25, vol. 3, 219, 223) mentions burial vault under S side of church, in which skulls could be seen. Interior of church dug out in late 19th/early 20th century by treasure hunters. According to OS Field Book (ibid., 216) name translates as 'Bowen's Church...said to have been formerly a R.C. Chapel'. The Bowens lived in Kilbolane Castle from c. 1660 until they moved to Bowen's Court (14893) c.1776; church perhaps built or rebuilt between these dates.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009