Chapel — Innisfallen

National Monument No. 183. On slightly raised ground NE of an Augustinian Abbey (KE066-072001-), on the NE shoreline of Innisfallen Island in Lough Leane. A single-cell, rectangular structure of limestone (ext. dims. 7.2m x 5.15m; int. dims. 5.44m x 3.4m) constructed on three plinths (extending c. 0.1-0.2m beyond the foundation courses). The gables survive to almost original height (H 1.2m; max. wall T 0.8m) with a Hiberno-Romanesque E window and W doorway of red and yellow sandstone with some sandstone quoins on the W gable. Formerly used as a banqueting hall in the 19th century by Lord Kenmare when a bay window and fireplace were inserted in the S wall and the oratory was re-roofed. Now roofless; both window and fireplace have been removed. The E window (ext. H 2m; ext. Wth 0.4m; int. H 2.3m; int. Wth 0.6m), partially restored, comprises of a semicircular, single arch-stone resting on rebated jambs with five plain voussoirs above. The arch-stone was re-fitted in the 19th century after it fell onto the shore; it is now ill-fitting. The jambstones have half roll-moulding on the external angle with the inner edge of the roll forming the rebate. The elaborate Hiberno-Romanesque W doorway (H 1.9m; Wth 0.75m) comprising of red sandstone jambs, yellow sandstone arches and hood-moulding (where opposite occurs these are inserts). The doorway is of two orders with hood-moulding over. The voussoirs of the inner order are decorated with lateral, centrifugal chevrons in low relief that continue over the arris onto the soffit; four rows on the face and two to three on the soffit. Jambs of the inner order are plain, well-cut ashlar. The nib-holes for centering survive on ingoing of springers. The outer order comprises of jambstones with deeply cut 3/4 roll-moulding on the external angle terminating in a shallow roll at the plinth and the springers. At the plinth the roll is decorated with a shallow scallop design and slight torus. Some graffiti on the jamb and on some blocks are out of sequence or upside-down. The arch of the outer order is formed of unusually moulded voussoirs (possibly called Gear-tooth voussoirs (T. O'Keefe pers. comm.; Weaver 1995)), which are the only example in the country. These voussoirs are 'ridged like the roof of a house, on both faces, so as to form a zigzag moulding in two directions' (Romilly Allen 1892, 159) and are decorated with low-relief chevrons, in three rows frontal to face and soffit (following the moulding). Four voussoirs on the N arc of this order are replacements. The outer hood-moulding are of yellow sandstone and the N arc is a replacement. The remaining sections comprise: six heavily eroded heads, now in the form of bosses, set within the hollow chamfer of a single archstone, and four archstones each with c. three grotesque heads apiece also set within a hollow chamfer (the S-most arc may have had four heads). The central arc is best preserved with three heads: (1) gaunt, narrow face with bulging eyes and twisted mouth carved in relief and small wide-set ears, (2) wide face, wide-set bulging eyes under heavy brow-ridge, large gaping mouth and ears widely set on top of head, with a third loop-like ear at centre, (3) narrow, gaunt face with almond-shaped bulging eyes, twisted mouth and small closely set ears pointing towards each other. The voussoirs of the outer order are unique in Ireland and are similar to 12th-century churches in the Saintonge region of France. This type of voussoir occurs infrequently in Great Britain, and as there are no other examples along the E and SE coast of Ireland, it is more likely that the influence here is French (Weaver 1995). The beasts' heads set within a hollow chamfer are comparable to the Nun's Chapel at Clonmacnoise. Similarities with other Hiberno-Romanesque churches can also be inferred; possible mid/late 12th-centry date. There is a small free-standing ringed-cross (KE066-072013-) on a plinth in the centre of the oratory. (Weaver 1995) M. Weaver 1995 'An architectural survey of Inisfallen Island, Lough Leane, Co. Kerry.' MA Thesis, Dept. of Archaeology, UCC. Compiled by: Mairéad Weaver Date of upload: 17 February 2011