Church (in ruins) — Ceathrú An Teampaill

Ballywiheen Church/Teampall Bhaile Bhoithín: The remains of a simple rectangular church are situated in a graveyard KE042-103002- near the foot of the E slopes of Croagh Marhin. The site is known locally by the name of the adjacent townland of Ballywiheen and was probably the parish church of Marhin which was in repair in 1615 (Royal Visitation). The graveyard contains several cross-inscribed grave-markers (KE042-103004-/011-), and a stone font (KE042-103----) lies inside the church (KE042-103001-). Reilig an Draghbháil, a calluragh burial ground (KE042-102----), lies about 75m to SW in Ballywiheen townland. The church measures 11.62m x 4.6m internally and the walls, which survive almost to full height, are built of small split stones, widely-jointed and set in a loose clay mortar. Extensive burials both within and in the immediate vicinity of the church have resulted in a substantial rise in ground level and much distortion of the walls. The E gable, 3.9m high, retains some of its coping. The central, rectangular light has a double splay and lintelled rear arch. Viewed externally the ope inclines in elevation and a projecting hood stone (now broken) is flanked by 2 putlog holes. The lower jambs of the window consist of flat uprights of thin section inserted between the inner and outer splay and rebated internally for a shutter. There are 2 similar windows at the E end of the N and S walls; a 3rd, near the W end of the S wall, has been partially blocked by a tomb which abuts the external wall face. Two small aumbries in the SE corner of the church are now almost obscured by burials. The lintelled doorway in the N wall retains a pivot hole and draw bar socket for the door, but the ingoings are now displaced. Two beam holes in the S wall, a corresponding beam hole in the N wall, and a broken corbel on the W gable indicate an attic storey at the W end of the church. Entry was probably gained from the interior, and the chamber was lit by a narrow, double-splayed, rectangular ope, 0.53 x 0.15m. The lopsided W gable is 2.7m high but may be partially rebuilt. In 2007 a graveyard survey carried out by Karen Buckley and Laurence Dunne recorded the following details about Ballywiheen church; 'Ballywiheen church and graveyard is located within the townland of Ballineanig Churchquarter, c.1km southeast of Ballyferriter village on the Dingle Peninsula. The graveyard is situated on the lower eastern slopes of Ballineanig Hill set back c.200m from a sweeping bend of the Ventry to Ballyferriter road. There are extensive views from the graveyard with Smerwick Harbour visible to the north while to the west-southwest, Cruach Mhárthain can be seen. The ruined church is located centrally within the graveyard and there is an obvious bias of more recent, modern graves to its north and older graves to its south. The church is constructed with small split rubble sandstones with flatter stones used at the corners and bedded in a mud/clay bonding. The upper levels of the walls are overrun with grass and the church interior and the graves located within are heavily overgrown with grass and brambles. Access into the church is very difficult as a partially open tomb is constructed across the interior of the doorway. Furthermore other deep partially open tombs are located within the interior. The cross slab recorded by the Dingle Survey is now standing loosely with the east window embrasure. There is no sign of the font fragments also recorded in the Dingle Survey (ibid) however, this may be due to the overgrown nature of the interior' (Buckley and Dunne 2007, 2-8). See attached photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne See attached plan of church taken from Cuppage 1986 The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 981. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 11 July 2022