Kilbonane Church (in Ruins)

In a graveyard (KE057-078003-). The overgrown ruins of a rectangular church (21.4m E-W; 8m N-S). The walls (H c. 4m; T 1m) are of rubble sandstone bonded with lime mortar. The internal walls are rendered with lime mortar. The church is entered through a pointed door ope (Wth 1.12m) at the W end of the S wall. The door ope has a segmental arched embrasure (Wth 1.55m) and a rough stone voussoir. There are a pair of arched window embrasures (Wth 0.9m) in the E wall with two narrow pointed lights (Wth 0.12m; H 1.55m) of sandstone with an external rebate and chamfer. The upper portion of the S wall at the E end has collapsed. The remains of the splayed ingoing of a window with an adjacent wall-press is evident in the S wall. A rectangular window (c. 1.5m x 1.5m) is visible high up in the W gable. There is a narrow breach (Wth 0.8m) in the N wall at the W end. The interior is level with numerous grave-plots and headstones dating from the 19th century to the present day. This was the parish church of Kilbonane, recorded in 1841 as 'the church of Saint Benignus' (OSL, 196-7). According to local tradition, the church was thatched and burnt by the Cromwellian troops (ITA). The Minutes of the CKFC records a belfry on top of the W gable and at the E end the 'south wall projects and widens showing what appears to be a Man-made underground passage leading under it'. The SE corner of the church has collapsed outwards, depositing a mound of rubble which obscures an area up to 4m outside the SE corner. There are no visible remains of the possible Man-made underground passage (KE057-078004-). An ogham stone (KE057-078002-) formerly in the vault at the E end of the church has been moved to Coolmagort, Beaufort. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011

Kilbonane Church, a rectangular ruin built of rubble sandstone with lime mortar, dates to the early medieval period, likely 9th to 12th century. Its exact builder is unknown, but it is associated with an ecclesiastical site within a graveyard, reflecting the religious significance of the area in early Christian Ireland.