Carrigdownane Church (in Ruins)

In centre of graveyard (14552). Rectangular church (int. 18.1m E-W; int. 6.36m N-S), heavily ivy-grown. Walls stand to full height except top of E gable and top of E end of N wall. Doorway in centre of S wall: lintelled embrasure; limestone door surround has chamfered edge and pointed arch. Doorway opposite in N wall: surround collapsed but described by Windele (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 2, 52) as having a flat arch. East gable much collapsed and overgrown; lintelled wall presses at N and S ends; wide gap in centre (Wth 2.3m) held window, which was described by Windele (ibid.) as a 'lancet with a broad splay'. South wall has wall press at E end; window nearby has ogee-headed light and splayed and lintelled embrasure. North wall has light opposite, only W side of which survives, but probably similar to latter. Two corbels at W end of N and S walls, and deep beam holes at N and S ends of W gable, indicate former loft at W end. Below line of loft are two small splayed and lintelled embrasures, with narrow slits, now blocked; probably pair of gun loops. Above line of gallery is blocked central window in W wall, obscured by overgrowth; described by Power (1932, 62) as 'a double window of pointed style, splaying widely inwards'. Parish church of Carrigdownane; surviving structure late medieval in appearance. Reported 'in ruins', in 1615, abandoned by 1641 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 85). A church here listed in Papal Taxation of 1291 (ibid.). 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

Carrigdownane Church was likely built in the 13th or 14th century by a local ecclesiastical community; its rectangular plan and central doorway reflect a typical medieval Irish church design. The church is situated within a graveyard, indicating its historical role as a place of worship and burial in the area.