Kilcummin Church (in Ruins)

In a graveyard (KE058-072003-). The ruins of a rectangular church (int. 16.75m E-W; 5.95m N-S) which is missing its W wall. The remaining walls (T 0.95m; H 2.5m) are of random rubble sandstone bonded with lime mortar and clad in ivy. The church is entered through a pointed door ope, with a chamfer-edged limestone surround, at the W end of the S wall. An inserted door (Wth ext. 1.14m; H 2.15m) in the E end of the N wall has a narrow pointed-arched door surround (Wth 0.44m) on the internal wall face, the lower portion of which is blocked by a tomb. There is a central window embrasure in the E wall with a narrow square-headed light (H 0.92m; Wth 0.15m). There is a similar window embrasure in the E end of the S wall whose light is partly removed. A wall-press is adjacent to the E of this embrasure. There is a short return of the W wall at the W end of the S wall. The remainder of the W wall is replaced by a recent wall. The interior is level and contains a number of vaults and headstones dating from the 18th century to the early 20th century. An armorial stone (KE058-072004-) bearing the Barry arms, a date of 1688 and the motto 'Boutes en avant' set into the E end of the S wall appears to have been recently reset into the wall. A stone head, said to represent St. Cummin, was recorded in 1841 as projecting near the N end of the E gable, externally (OSL, 193). In 1942 it was recorded that the stone head was originally found within the church by a man digging a grave, and was placed in the E gable (ITA). The head was subsequently removed from here (Lyne 1998, 9). According to local information, St. Cummin's foot is inserted in a wall, close to the GAA grounds, c. 1km to the E of the graveyard. The overgrown remains of a possible church (KE058-072005-) are visible to the SW of the church. According to local information, this was a monastery founded by St. Cummin. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011

Kilcummin Church, a rectangular ruin of early medieval design, was likely built in the 12th or 13th century using local sandstone and lime mortar. Its significance lies in its association with the surrounding graveyard and its structural remains that reflect typical ecclesiastical construction of the period in the region.