Kilbonane Church (in Ruins) — Kilbonane

In N half of graveyard (CO084-012001-); ruin of Kilbonane parish church. Rectangular gabled church (int.: 14.6m E-W; 6.2m N-S); walls stand to full height. Entered through door with pointed arch, near W end of S wall. Much-ruined window near E end of S wall; window high on W gable with flat-headed light; central window in E wall with double ogee-headed cusped light. Latter window now completely blocked outside by 19th-century memorial. Two rectangular presses near E end of S wall; press to W now partially buried under ground, surround has chamfered edge and probably contains piscina. Shallow rectangular slab (H 0.1m; D 0.15m; Wth 0.45m) projects from inside of E wall to N of window. S wall abuts W gable, and N wall poorly keyed to opposite end of same gable, suggesting a repair to this part of church. Interior long used for burial, earliest headstone noted dated 1740. Just inside door cone-shaped stone stoup (H 0.15m; Wth at top 0.25m; Wth at base 0.06m); at NE corner fragment of plain octagonal font (H 0.2m; max. Wth 0.6m). Present building largely late-medieval in style; it was reported in ruins in 1615 (Brady 1863, vol. 1, 313-2) but was in repair in 1639 (ibid.), these repairs probably those evident on W gable. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009