Ballinlough Church (in ruins)

Westropp (1904-5, 446) recorded the following details about Ballinlough Church; 'A parish in Coonagh. In 1289, W., bishop of Emly, who had mortgaged the farm to Lucca merchants, stayed at the church of Ballilogo when the sheriff seized all his horses and twenty plough oxen (C.S.P.L, vol. iii., 260). Balylogh, in Grene Deanery, 1302; Ballynlocha, 1558 (Fiants, 84), and Ballyenlogh, 1568 (ib., 1258); Balleinlogh, or Ballelogh, in Grene, 1615; Ballen loghy, united with Aney parish. The glebe of Ballinlogh is called Gorteglish in the trustee maps, 1688 (No. 17). Baile an locha (O'Donovan). Site - It was on low ground, probably once a lake. It had nearly disappeared in 1840. It was 55½ feet [18m] by 21 feet [6.4m]; walls, 3 feet [0.9m] thick. The well was Toberbrighde. A mile south of the church stands a dolmen on Cromwell Hill; not named, as the people say, after the Protector, but an old medieval name, Cromglin'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 April 2019 See attached ASI aerial photograph ASIAP - 332/35, 36 on 05/10/2002.

Ballinlough Church, likely built in the late medieval period, is associated with the 13th-century Bishop of Emly, William, who stayed there in 1289; its exact dedication and architectural style are not recorded, but it reflects the ecclesiastical activity in the Coonagh parish area.