Church (in Ruins) — Kildorrery

In centre of graveyard (14587). Ruinous church comprises nave (int. dims.: 16.2m E-W; 6.8m N-S) and chancel (int. dims.: c. 7.15m E-W; 5.3m N-S), built of sandstone rubble. East wall of chancel has entirely fallen; line of stones probably marks inner wall face. South wall survives as low line of rubble. North wall, heavily overgrown on outer face, stands to full height (H c. 2.5m); wall incorporates cut-sandstone fragments. Dividing wall between nave and chancel ivy-clad; side jambs of narrow chancel arch (Wth 2m) survive, now scarcely visible under ivy; stiff-leaf foliated capital of 13th-century type inserted into S jamb; likely to have come from elaborate window surround. Photograph of 1907 (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 3, opp. 282) shows base of springing of arch arising from S jamb. South wall of nave survives to full height, heavily ivy-grown on exterior face. Doorway, towards W end, has chamfered cut-limestone door surround with pointed arch. Sandstone holy water stoup in pointed-arch niche set into E side of doorway. Wide gap towards E end of S wall (Wth 3.4m) probably indicates site of window ope. North wall of nave survives to full height only at E end (L 6m), overgrown and collapsed (H c. 1m) elsewhere. West wall of nave removed, burial plots along line of wall. Cut-sandstone fragments in N wall of chancel include: D-sectioned string course, which terminates in moulding suggestive of side jamb of window; heavily fluted fragment of possible door jamb; possible base of engaged column; carved head on chamfered fragment; a possible door jamb of later-medieval date. The latter was built into N wall after being retrieved from road contractor who had been taking stones out of the church in mid- to late-19th century (Grove White ibid., 283). Second heavily fluted fragment of door jamb inserted as grave marker in chancel. Windele, who visited church in 1849, noted in N wall a 'square recess, a foot in depth, three feet in length, two feet in height, bordered with a double torus moulding and a foliaged pattern' (ibid., 282); on a later visit he notes 'doorway in north wall of chancel nearly destroyed. Its moulded and floriated stones half gone for grave heads.' Chancel not well keyed in to nave; probably an addition to church although perhaps near-contemporary in date; chancel arch could have originated as E window of first church. Remains of parish church of Kildorrery. A church here listed in Papal Taxation of 1291; reported 'in ruins' in 1591, but 'in repair' in 1615; by 1677 'out of repair since the rebellion of 1641', and still 'in ruins' in 1774 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 258, 363). 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