Indicated — Innisfallen

National Monument No. 183. On flat ground c. 10m W of the Augustinian Abbey (KE066-072001-), on Innisfallen Island in Lough Leane. A limestone-built contemporary nave and chancel church, constructed on a plinth (extends c. 0.25-0.4m beyond the foundation courses). The nave (ext. dims. 9.3m x 6.95m; int. dims. 7.7m x 5.35m) is separated from the chancel (ext. dims. 5.15m x 4.7m; int. dims. 3.75m x 3.45m) by a reconstructed Hiberno-Romanesque arch with three steps up to the chancel. The E gable stands to its full height (H 1.1m) with no evidence for a window. The W gable stands to a max. height of 1.1m with no evidence for a door. The entrance in the N wall (H 1.2m; Wth 0.65m) at the junction of the nave and chancel is possibly modern. The entrance in the S wall, at the SW corner (H 1.1m; Wth 1.3m), with cut-stone blocks at base, may be original. A rebated archstone, probably that of a window, with a simple incised decoration over the arch, is cemented on top of the S wall. At the N corner of the E gable (ext., c. 1.5m above ground level) is a decorated sandstone corbel; flat-topped with concave underside and incised design on the face and sides. There is no corresponding corbel at the S corner, although a hole survives c. 1.4m above ground level. Possibly the support for the roof timbers. The Romanesque chancel arch, largely destroyed and heavily reconstructed survives only to the springers. The surviving jambstones on the S side only are decorated with a shallow roll-moulding at the external angle and are framed on either side by an eroded, narrow roll defined by incised lines. At the base, on the S side, the roll terminates in a spiral motif on both faces, similar to the sidestone of the piscina in the abbey church (KE066-072001-). The corresponding base-stone on the N jamb is missing and it is likely that it is now the sidestone of the above mentioned piscina. A portion of the springer for the arch survives at the S comprising an arc with incised double lines, above which is a chamfered arch-stone. On top of the N jamb is a large sandstone capital with a mask traditionally thought to represent St Finan. The mask is carved in relief along the angle of the capital. It depicts a bearded ecclesiastic wearing a cap. The facial features are delineated by a single or double incised lines, almond-shaped eyes, a long splayed nose and a down-turned mouth. The beard forms two plaits at the jawline which may have extended down either side of the jamb as a roll-moulding terminating as a curl or spiral at the base. Springing from the left shoulder is a bird-like creature, possibly a peacock with traces of a similar carving on the W face. There are two decorated chamfered stones directly above, and E of, the capital. The decoration comprises bosses and Greek fretwork. They are possibly misplaced string-course mouldings. On the S jamb a decorated stone with a triangular fretwork survives. This is possibly impost moulding. The masked capital, decorated stonework and ground plan are indicative of a mid/late 12th-century church. The church is attached on its W side to a rectangular structure by an inserted arch which leads to a walkway. This rectangular structure functioned as the W range of the abbey (KE066-072001-). (Weaver 1995) M. Weaver 1995 'An architectural survey of Inisfallen Island, Lough Leane, Co. Kerry.' MA Thesis, Dept. of Archaeology, UCC. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011