Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Forming NW corner of graveyard (CO075-02001-), ruins of rectangular church (13.35m E-W; 8.5m N-S). W gable and N wall stand to full height but much of E and S walls reduced to c. 1.1m in height, much repaired. Inner wall face plastered and interior used for burials; E half divided between two 19th century plots. Doorway near W end of S wall much destroyed but lower jambs survive with deep chamfer on outer edge. Doorway opposite in N wall has brick surrounds and is late insertion. Lower courses of window in E wall with brick surrounds. Appears to be core of late medieval church much repaired at later date(s). Built against outside of W gable is much ruined and overgrown gabled structure (c. 3.5m E-W; c. 5m N-S), containing railed 19th century grave plot. Parish church of Little Island, in repair 1615 and 1639 (Brady 1863, vol. 1, 209), described in 1700 as 'built with stones and lime, in good repair; there is a pulpit and desks, but no seats; a tomb in the church, belonging to the Courthy's family; the church is about 40 feet long and 20 broad' (ibid); may have gone out of use when parish united to Cahirlag in 1769 (ibid, 210). Power (1923, 185) describes walls as 'standing to their original height....in the south side wall is the pointed doorway of cut stone'; he also describes pointed windows in S and E walls which had been 'modernised'.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009