Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

To S of road, on E-facing slope, within early ecclesiastical site (13877). Roughly triangular graveyard (c. 70m E-W; c. 70m N-S) enclosed by stone wall to SE, W and NE; entrance to E; wall at E corner partially removed to give entry to large recent extension to SE. Ruin of parish church of Brigown (14400) in centre. Site of round tower (13906) near SW corner of graveyard. In occasional use; 18th- and 19th-century headstones to S and E of church, 19th-century headstones to W and a few recent burials to N. Earliest headstone noted inside church dated 1741; chest tomb of 1788 in nave; rectangular memorial stone, with date of 1629 (Moore 1892-4, 54), leaning against sill of E window in chancel; broken coffin-shaped memorial stone in nave, with date of 1630 (ibid.); Kingston memorial on N wall of chancel has Latin inscription and date of 1721 (Fitzgerald 1904-6a, 231-2; Anon. 1910-12, 499-500). Built into exterior S wall of nave is top portion of tapering graveslab with seven-armed segmental cross on shaft with fleur-de-lis terminals; probably of 16th-century date (pers. comm. D. Maher). Until recently a coffin-shaped stone slab (H 2ft; L 5ft) rested inside graveyard gate and according to tradition, was used for resting coffins on; possibly removed by County Council during restoration works (pers. comm. B. Power).

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