Inishcarra Church (in Ruins)

Just N of centre in graveyard (CO073-037001-); ivy-clad ruin of Inishcarra parish church. Remains consist of gabled rectangular nave (13.7m E-W; 8.8m N-S), with semicircular apse (4.55m E-W; 6.3m N-S) added at E end and 4-storey tower (4.5m E-W; 4.8m N-S) at W end. Church originally entered through doorin centre of W wall of nave; when tower added this became internal door with external door now in W wall of tower; both doors have round arches. Nave lit by two windows in S wall; embrasures covered by segmental arches, sills now level with ground outside. High up on heavily ivy-clad N wall of nave, traces of three blocked windows. Holes on W end of S wall probably housed support for wooden stairs to gallery. Segmental chancel arch (Wth 3.4m; wall thickness 1.3m) has wicker centering; now closed by iron railing. Chancel has small window facing E and blocked window to S. Each stage of tower marked by string course; traces of battlements on top. Over W door of tower is inscribed plaque commemorating its erection in 1756 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 238). Along internal S wall of nave is 19th-century railed-in chest tomb of Galway family; another chest tomb in NW corner; inscribed memorial plaque on W wall, just S of door, with dates 1717 and 1724 (Coleman 1913-6, 432). Church here in repair in 1615 (Brady ibid., 236); in 1700 described as 'in repair....there is a handsom altar range'd in; a pulpit desk, and three large good pews' (ibid., 237); still in repair in 1774 (ibid., 239) but abandoned by 1820 (ibid.). Date of nave unclear; chancel probably added in 18th/19th century. New C of I parish church for Inishcarra (CO073-029----) built c. 2 km to NNW in 1818. 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