Ballyoughtera Church (in Ruins) — Castlemartyr (imokilly By., Ballyoughtera Par.)

In centre of graveyard (CO077-00601-), ivy-clad ruins of nave (int. 24.8mE-W; 6.55m N-S) and chancel (int. 15.7m E-W; 5.7m N-S) of church; chancel is later addition. Door opes near W ends of N and S walls in both nave and chancel; door surrounds gone except in S wall of chancel which is covered by bluntly-pointed masonry arch; traces of wicker-centering in vault over doorway in S wall of nave. Splayed window opes in N and S walls of nave and chancel; all lights gone. Central window ope in E wall of chancel almost entirely fallen. Window in W gable of nave with flat-headed light. Top of W gable levelled as if to support bell cote. Interior of church filled with low uninscribed gravemarkers, also some inscribed headstones, the earliest dating from 1798, and some chest tombs, the earliest dating from 1764 (Coleman 1907, 242; Coleman 1907-9f). Collapsed vault in nave for Bunbury family dated 1786; plain chest tomb of last Earl of Shannon of Castlemartyr house (CO077-00501-) dated 1868 (Coleman 1913, 62; Coleman 1907-9f, 242). Flat slab, in SE corner of chancel, said to mark burial place of Geraldines of Imokilly (ibid.). Parish church of Ballyoughtera which, according to Lewis (1837, vol. 1, 161) was 'built in 1549, and destroyed in the war of 1641' though reported 'in ruins' in 1615 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 77); therefore possibly repaired and extended betweeen 1615 and 1641. 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