Kilcummin Church (in Ruins) — Glebe (magunihy By., Kilcummin Ed)

In a graveyard (KE058-072003-). The ruins of a rectangular church (int. 16.75m E-W; 5.95m N-S) which is missing its W wall. The remaining walls (T 0.95m; H 2.5m) are of random rubble sandstone bonded with lime mortar and clad in ivy. The church is entered through a pointed door ope, with a chamfer-edged limestone surround, at the W end of the S wall. An inserted door (Wth ext. 1.14m; H 2.15m) in the E end of the N wall has a narrow pointed-arched door surround (Wth 0.44m) on the internal wall face, the lower portion of which is blocked by a tomb. There is a central window embrasure in the E wall with a narrow square-headed light (H 0.92m; Wth 0.15m). There is a similar window embrasure in the E end of the S wall whose light is partly removed. A wall-press is adjacent to the E of this embrasure. There is a short return of the W wall at the W end of the S wall. The remainder of the W wall is replaced by a recent wall. The interior is level and contains a number of vaults and headstones dating from the 18th century to the early 20th century. An armorial stone (KE058-072004-) bearing the Barry arms, a date of 1688 and the motto 'Boutes en avant' set into the E end of the S wall appears to have been recently reset into the wall. A stone head, said to represent St. Cummin, was recorded in 1841 as projecting near the N end of the E gable, externally (OSL, 193). In 1942 it was recorded that the stone head was originally found within the church by a man digging a grave, and was placed in the E gable (ITA). The head was subsequently removed from here (Lyne 1998, 9). According to local information, St. Cummin's foot is inserted in a wall, close to the GAA grounds, c. 1km to the E of the graveyard. The overgrown remains of a possible church (KE058-072005-) are visible to the SW of the church. According to local information, this was a monastery founded by St. Cummin. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011