Monkstown Church (in Ruins)

At N corner of graveyard (CO087-029001-), ruins of rectangular (14.2m E-W; 6.4m N-S) gable-ended church (see plan and section Hurst 1926, facing p. 12); walls and gables standing to near full height. Interior densely overgrown and virtually impenetrable; used for burial since early 18th century (O'Leary 1918, 71-3). Entered by doorway near W end of S wall; lower jamb stones of door in place, dressed limestone blocks with chamfered edges; lying in doorway two curved limestone blocks which formerly formed pointed arch over door. Also on ground in doorway broken stoup/font (0.4m x 0.35m; D 0.18; diam. at top of depression 0.15m, at base 0.05m). Window near E end of S wall with flat-headed light in lintelled embrasure; window in centre of E gable with ogee-headed light and similar embrasure. Rectangular structure (4.1m N-S; 3.15m E-W), built off-centre against outside of W gable, probably family burial plot and not base of tower as suggested by Hurse (1925, 18). Inscribed headstones within church date from 1719; two chest tombs against outside of S wall burial place of Archdeacon family of Monkstown Castle (CO087-028---), worn Latin inscriptions given by Coleman (1904-6c). Parish church of Monkstown, said to have been named 'Tampull Oen Bryn' (ibid.); in 1700 described as having 'the roof up but the timbers beginning to decay' (Brady 1863, vol. 1, 215). Church is late medieval in date. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009