Kilcatherine Ch (in Ruins)

In centre of graveyard (CO101-00501-) ruins of medieval parish church (L 14.65m; Wth 7.12m). N wall gone except section running 3.65m from E gable. Door, west of centre in S wall, has pointed masonry arch; jambs gone; linteled embrasure. Central E window; round-headed light with rebate on outside; embrasure splayed with arched masonry head. Attic window in W gable. Window near E end of S wall and blocked window at W end of S wall with lintelled embrasures. Wall-presses near E ends of N and S walls. Carved human head projects from exterior S wall just W of doorway. Atkinson identifies this as carving of the 'iron cat' of 'Cill-cait-iairn' (Atkinson 1883-4, 307-8 ) but O'Donoghue gives the name as 'Cill Chaitighearn -Caitighearn's church' (1986, 314-5). The parish of Kilcatherine was united with Killaconenagh in 1672 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 494) and the church has probably been in ruins since at least that time. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Kilcatherine Church, in ruins near Gortgarriff, is a medieval parish church, likely built in the 13th or 14th century, with a pointed arch doorway indicating a Gothic style. It is situated in the centre of a graveyard and represents a significant, though now decayed, ecclesiastical site of the local medieval community.