Monastery (Remains of) — Ballyhest East

In pasture. Depicted on 1937 OS 6-inch map as circular enclosure (diam. c. 60m), bisected by roughly N-S laneway. On E side of laneway, enclosure defined by single line of hachured, indicating lower ground, from N->S, with D-shaped area (c. 20m N-S; c. 10m E-W) abutting E side of laneway in SE quadrant, named 'monastery (remains of)'. On W side, enclosure defined by broken line S->N and named 'Burial ground (Disused)' (14068). Levelled; no visible surface trace of enclosure; in SE quadrant, 'Monastery (remains of)' evident as subrectangular raised platform (13m N-S; 9m E-W; H c. 0.5m). Site inspection by OPW on 28/2/1974 describes enclosure as having a 'circular wide fosse with level interior' (diam. 44m) with possible outer defaced bank, large scarped embankment 'extending to E from NE corner of site...other defaced earthworks (fosses) extending away from site to WSW'. According to Bowman (1934, 418), '...it is said locally that a Monastery was in this field...Part of a wall of masonry - which is 4ft thick - forms part of a boundary fence'. May be location of 'Villa Rogeri Calvi' noted by Brady (1863, 115, 245) as part of Kilbrin parish in 1615, and placed in this townland by MacCotter and Nicholls (1996, 210). 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