Church in Ballygroman Upper

Though graveyard (CO085-005001-) is probably ancient site of parish church of Desertmore, it was 'used solely by Protestant families during the past two hundred years at least' (ibid.); Roman Catholics of the parish used Kilcrea (9540) for burial, though Henchion (ibid.) notes tradition of burial ground 'just outside the north wall of the churchyard'. The 1842 OS 6-inch map shows a small rectangular church, long axis SW-NE, standing in centre of graveyard; this was erected as C of I parish church of Desertmore in 1815 (Brady 1863, vol. 1, 76) but 'taken down' in 1872 when parish united with Athnowen (Cole 1903, 37); described by Lewis (1837, vol. 1, 457) as 'a plain modern building'; no visible surface trace. Hurley (1980, 58) lists Desertmore as 'well attested early ecclesiastical site ... probably a hermitage'. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009