Kilcrumper Church (in Ruins)

On top of a slight rise, N-of-centre in graveyard (14604). Fragmentary remains of rectangular church (int. c. 23m E-W; int. c. 9m N-S), built of coursed limestone rubble. East wall visible only as line of rubble at N end, low rise at S end. No trace of S wall. North wall best preserved at W end (L 11.3m; H 3.6m); gap of 2.9m towards centre; E end of wall is low, overgrown, with 3m length near E end reduced to rubble. Low remains of crossing wall visible (L c. 4.5m) c. 8m from E end, presumably remains of chancel mentioned by Power (1932, 75). West gable (L c. 4.1m) overgrown, collapsing inwards; external NW corner collapsed. Cut-limestone fragment, possibly part of door arch, in graveyard c. 20m S of church. Remains of parish church of Kilcrumper. Reported 'in ruins' in 1615 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 256). Power (1932, 21, 30) identifies Kilcrumper with Cill Cruimtir in Crichad an Chaoilli, chief church of the Tuath O Quain; said to be founded by St Abban, though locally associated with St Cruimthir Fraech (ibid., 76). A church here is listed in Papal Taxation of 1291 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 256). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009