What is recorded here

Grave Yard in County Cork, Ireland, is a rectangular graveyard enclosing the ruined parish church of Ballinaboy, where headstones date from the mid-19th century and the church now stands roofless with a castellated tower. The place has cycled between neglect and repair since the 1600s, suggesting that people kept returning to bury their dead and mark their grief even when the building itself fell into decay.

On W side of road; rectangular graveyard (c. 40m N-S; c. 130m E-W) enclosing site of ancient parish church (CO098-002001-) of Ballinaboy. In 1676 '13s. 3d.per ploughland raised for walling the church yard' (Brady 1963, vol. 1, 14). Church in ruins by 1615 but in good repair 1639. New church built in 1700 'with stone and clay, and plastered within and slated ... about 30 foot long, and 18 broad' (ibid., 15). Described by Lewis (1837, vol. 1, 105) as 'a small dilapidated building'; reported 'in a satisfactory state' in 1860 (Brady ibid., 18). Renovated in 1876 (Cole 1903, 10) after being 'closed for some years'. Church now roofless; rectangular structure with pointed window opes; castellated tower on W gable; annexe at E end of N wall. Inscribed headstones date from mid-19th century; overgrown gate house at W end. In occasional use. Deserted settlement of 'Ballinaboy Town' (CO098-064---) in field to S. 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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