St Fachtnas Cathedral — Town Lands

Overlooking Rosscarbery estuary to S and E; C of I cathedral of Ross. Ancient site of monastery (CO143-023001-) founded by St Fachtna, who died c. 600 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1988, 96). A Protestant cathedral was built here c. 1612 but was burnt in 1642 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 541); subsequently extensively repaired and restored in 18th and 19th centuries; present C of I cathedral largely 19th century in appearance. Church cruciform in plan with spired tower atop W gable; neo-Romanesque door in W wall; according to Webster (1932, 269) west window (three-light switchline tracery with hood moulding) only surviving part of earlier (i.e. 17th-century) church. Inside, stone screen blocks nave from choir. On floor of nave are two stone fonts (CO143-095---; CO143-096---); over arch at W end is carved head (a flat triangular head with drooping moustache, beard and head-dress); which local tradition says represents St Fachtna (Webster 1932, 269). Graveyard surrounding church still in use; earliest headstones date from late 19th-century; semicircular stone arch just S of church does not appear to be ancient. See Excavations 2003, 74 The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009