Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In centre of graveyard (CO097-05406-), at E end of Inishannon. Ruins of rectangular church (int.: 15.5m E-W; 7.28m N-S) to which have been added: semicircular apse (int.: 3m E-W; 6m N-S) on E gable; tall 3-storey castellated tower (4.7m N-S; 4.6m E-W) against outside of W gable; and one-storey annexe (5.2m N-S; 5.5m E-W) at centre of N wall. Two window opes with segmental arches in both N and S walls; wide central window in apse missing upper part; blocked (when tower added) window high on W gable with segmental arch. Tower, with string course between floors, has narrow pointed window opes on each floor; shallow masonary pillasters at each corner. Narrow pointed doors on W and E walls of tower form entry into church; latter door built into wider round-arched door ope. N wall of nave formed into gable for annex; date of 1801 cut into keystone over door in W wall of annexe. Interior of church filled with burial vaults and railed-in grave plots, the earliest noted dating from 1860s. According to Cole (1907,58) church rebuilt in 1761-2; at this time used by Huguenot settlers for worship (St. Leger 1991, 46-7). Addition of tower and apse probably contemporary with annexe (1801), the latter reputedly built for the Huguenots (ibid). Dismantled in 1856 when new church (CO097-054002-) built on N side of village (Cole ibid.). On site of ancient parish church of Inishannon; church here reported in repair in 1615 & 1639 and 'in good repair' in 1699 (Brady 1863, vol. 1, 123-4) but surviving remains have no appearance of being earlier than mid 18th century. Church abandoned when new church built near W end of village in 1856. Known locally as 'Cistercian Tower' but no such foundation listed by Gwynn and Hadcock (1988) or Stalley (1987).

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