Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In centre of graveyard (14549), within early ecclesiastical site (13877). Ruinous church consisting of nave (23.1m E-W; 10.1m N-S) and chancel (9.1m E-W; 8.2m N-S). West wall of nave entirely missing, otherwise walls stand to full height except top of E gable of chancel. Extensive repairs in late 19th century included 're-erection of a portion of the south wall at the junction of the nave and chancel; the building of a doorway in the south wall, and the refacing of the whole of the north wall of the nave' (Moore 1889, 225); more recently minor repairs carried out by Cork County Council.
Original portion of S wall of nave built of rectangular blocks of sandstone in courses, terminating in anta at W end (Wth 0.9m). Slit window near E end of wall, and doorway near W end are both 19th-century constructions. Inserted over door lintel is perforated stone, possibly a cross base. Top portion of graveslab has been inserted into outer wall face just W of door: tapering slab incised with seven-armed segmental cross on shaft, with fleur-de-lis terminals, probably 16th century (pres. comm. D. Maher). North wall of nave appears to be largely rebuilt, it is noticeably thicker (Wth 1.35m) than S wall (Wth 0.9m); it has two slit windows.
Chancel arch (H 3.1m; Wth 2.36m) is pointed arch of limestone, the central portion lower and carried on tapering terminals, edges chamfered; plain jambs to opening. Gable above stands to full height, though clearly reconstructed; limestone flashing for nave roof on W face.
Chancel has central window: splayed and lintelled embrasure, with flat-headed light divided by two mullions (mullion to N is replacement), covered by hood moulding with stepped terminals. South wall has narrow blocked window towards E end, head of light round-arched with simple rebate externally; jambstones, which don't match head, are moulded with two fillets; two similar jambstones recently built into top of E gable. Towards W end of S wall is round-arched doorway with bowtell-moulded jambstones, outer roll filletted, moulding carried up around arch except two uppermost voussoirs which are not filletted; lower jambstones missing. North wall featureless; memorial to Kingston family of Mitchelstown Castle (14918) built against inner face.
Interior of church packed with burial plots.
Earliest part of church probably S wall of nave with anta, which is Romanesque in character; jambs of window and door in S wall of chancel may be 13th century; chancel arch 15th/16th century in appearance but E window probably early 17th century. Ruin of parish church of Brigown. Listed in Papal Taxation of 1291; reported 'in repair' in 1615, and 'in pretty good repair' in 1694 although 'much abused, damnified by the Irish in the late war' (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 65-68). In ruins by 1774, when replaced by chapel-of-ease near Mitchelstown castle (14445) (ibid., 70).

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

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