Church

The National Monuments Service's description

South-of-centre in graveyard (14607), c. 5.5m S of C of I church (14720). Fragmentary remains of rectangular church (c. 18.9m E-W; int. c. 6.7m N-S); described by Power (1932, 83) as 42ft. x 27ft. East wall entirely removed, position marked by limestone quoins of NE corner (H 1.1m) and slight slope down to E; line of W wall also marked only by similar drop. South wall reduced to line of rubble. Low remains (max. H 1.1m) of E end of N wall (L 7.8m), visible elsewhere as slight drop. In 1984 (CAS), N and S walls survived to c. 1m H, heavily overgrown; opposing doorways, towards W end of N and S walls, had similar limestone surround with pointed arch, chamfered externally; S doorway had straight-set embrasure under segmental arch. Church subjected to removal of overgrowth in early 1990s, when S doorway and surrounding walling rebuilt using material from N doorway, and buttressed externally. North door now survives only in its basal courses.
Cut-limestone fragment close to church, re-used as gravemarker, has chamfered moulding, probably from window jamb. North and S walls described by Power (ibid.) as standing to 'about 8 feet' with 'a widely splaying window of apparently native Irish character' in S wall. Remains of parish church of Marshalstown, probably late medieval in date. Reported 'in repair' in 1615, abandoned by 1694 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 330, 68). A church here listed in Papal Taxation of 1291 (ibid.).

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