Church

The National Monuments Service's description

To the SW of centre of a graveyard (CO010-003002-), within an early ecclesiastical enclosure (CO010-003001-) and c. 3m to the N of an earlier church (CO010-003004-). Remains of the parish church of Templemolaga, consisting in the ruin of a rectangular structure (11.85m E-W; 7.15m N-S) built of squared sandstone blocks (Wth of E wall 1m). It was reported 'in ruins' in 1615 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 114), and heavily reconstructed by OPW; only the basal course is original; the entrance (Wth 0.8m), at the extreme W end of the S wall, does not appear to be original though no other opes survive. The W wall is entirely rebuilt, not necessarily on the original line. The reconstruction incorporates a sharpening stone and two quern fragments into the top of the S wall and a bullaun stone (CO010-003008-) atop the N wall. The character of the original masonry and the plinth at the base of the S wall appear Romanesque in date; in the mid-19th century, Windele (Grove White 1905-25. vol. 4, 4-5) described a doorway, probably at the W end, with one jamb remaining, 'the external angle...formed into a column. In the [earlier church (CO010-003004-)] is a cap of a column...'. Cleary (1995) noted five roll-moulded blocks, presumably from the doorway, Romanesque in appearance, built into the inner face of the W graveyard wall. A secondary structure, with narrower walls (6m E-W; 2m N-S; Wth of walls 0.48m), was added onto the E end of the church; the entrance (Wth 0.77m), off-centre in the S wall, does not have cut stone jambs.

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.

This is a National Monument in State Ownership (no. 18).

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

References

Brady, W.M. 1863 Clerical and parochial records of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, 3 vols. Privately published.

Grove-White, J. 1906 Historical and topographical notes, etc. on Buttevant, Doneraile, Mallow and places in their vicinity. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 12, 88.

Cleary, R.M. 1995 Labbamolaga, Co. Cork. Unpublished excavation report presented to the OPW.