What is recorded here

St. Cianán's parish church in County Meath still holds a long human-head gargoyle in its south aisle, but the smaller face-corbel with hair twisting into interlace bands has vanished from public view after vandalism in June 2014. That lost fragment once proved the church was rebuilt in a Romanesque style during the 12th century, making its absence a wound in the building's own memory. The gargoyle remains, tall and steady, while the corrupted corbel is kept hidden, preserved but severed from the wall that gave it meaning.

A gargoyle decorated as a human head (dims 1.12m; max. Wth 0.23m) is kept in the S aisle of St. Cianán's parish church (ME027-038013-), but the face-corbel (dims 0.42m x 0.23m; H 0.18m), the hair of which morphed into interlace bands and which indicates that the church was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in the 12th century, has been removed for safe-keeping after it was damaged by vandals in June 2014. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 August, 2014

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.