What is recorded here

G. Yd. is a living graveyard on the Owenboy estuary where Carrigaline buries its dead beside a church rebuilt in 1823. Stone walls hold chest tombs, a vault, and headstones reaching back to 1690, while Lady Susanna Newenham’s altar tomb faces the entrance like a keeper of the place. The church rose again on an older sacred site, and the graveyard continues to accept what the town lets go.

On N shore Owenboy estuary, on S side of road; rectangular area (c. 50m E-W; c. 80m N-S) enclosed by stone wall; still in use, recent extension on W side. Inscribed headstones date from 1690 (O'Leary 1918, 120-1), also a number of chest tombs (O'Leary ibid.; Coleman 1904-6g, 18-20); large gabled burial vault SE of church. Facing entrance to graveyard, SW of church, altar tomb of Lady Susanna Newenham, dated 1754, set in vaulted shelter; burial place of Newenham family of Coolmore house (CO087-043---) (Coleman ibid., 18). At centre, St. Mary's C of I church (CO087-036003-): nave and chancel with spired tower at W end; built in neo-Gothic style in 1823 to design of Pain brothers, brass tablet above door inscribed: "Jas. &G: R: PAIN/ ARCHts/ 1823"; N transept added in 1835 (Brady 1863, vol. 1,63; Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 278). On site of ancient parish church (CO087-036002-) of Carrigaline, described in 1700 as 'above 70 foot long....well slated and well furnished with seats' (Lunham 1909, 169-70); O'Leary (ibid.) notes 'detached stone' bearing inscription "this church was rebuilt in the year of our saviour Christ, 1723"; Smith (1750, vol. 1, 208) described it as 'in decent order'; no visible surface trace. Font (CO087-142----) dated 1637 inside church. 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

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