Ballyhay Church (in Ruins) — Ballyhay

In centre of graveyard (14541). Ruinous rectangular church, comprising of nave (18.83m E-W; 9.06m N-S) and chancel (18.03 E-W; 8.34 N-S) separated by inserted crossing wall. West wall, and W end of N wall of nave, most of N wall and E end of S wall of chancel, all missing. Nave has two doorways in S wall, both blocked: doorway near W end, and inward-facing doorway near E end. Frontal elevation of entrance door built of dressed sandstone blocks; door surround has plain jambs and rounded arch set in a shallow gabled projection, shouldered at level of springs of door arch. Only decoration is two beast heads, each biting segment of roll moulding, which project either side of top of arch (see Leask 1960, vol. 1, fig. 100, 166-7). Inner face of doorway framed by partially surviving plain projection; vertical hole cut through W side of projection at base of arch. Second doorway is inward-facing; door surround has chamfered edge and bluntly pointed arch; this may have led to sacristy (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 1, 203). Immediately above door (N face of wall) is stone carved with two bearded heads in high relief. In centre of S wall is gap on W side of which is side of window; jamb of window light chamfered and rebated on outside edge. West end of S wall has been finished with concrete. Surviving portion of N wall ivy-grown, featureless. Line of W wall covered by 19th-century grave plots. Isolated from rest of church is overgrown stump of E gable of chancel; splayed sides of wide central window evident. Effigy (14624) has recently been fixed against inside face of wall. Only W half of S wall of chancel now stands, densely overgrown with ivy. Blocked by insertion of crossing wall is window in S wall: lintelled embrasure splayed inside and outside from central light. Immediately E of latter is gap in wall (L c. 1.3m), probably a window position. Further E again is another window similar to that blocked by crossing wall but less well preserved. Short surviving stretch of N wall E of crossing wall, has chamfered flat-headed light in splayed embrasure, high up on wall. Cross wall survives to full height, but is densely overgrown; not keyed to side walls at either end. Wide central window embrasure covered by bluntly pointed arch; light rebated and chamfered externally (facing E), one mullion survives- originally tripartite arrangement with wide central light flanked by two narrower ones. Entrance door in S wall of nave regarded by Leask (ibid., 167) and Weaver (1995, 89-92) as late Romanesque in date (late 12th century); extent of Romanesque church unclear but clearly refurbished and eventually shortened (by insertion of crossing wall) in later medieval period. Brady (1863, vol. 2, 34-36) quotes 1224 reference to church at Ballyhay, and listing in Papal Taxation of 1291. Church reported 'in ruins' in 1615, though chancel 'in repair'; abandoned by 1694 (ibid.). 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