Church (in ruins) — Brandane

References could date from the beginning of the 13th century as an ecclesiastical structure at Brandane is referred to obliquely in a charter to New Ross (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 439). When Hervey de Montmorency became a monk c. 1177 at Christchurch in Cantebury he granted the rights to the churches of Shelbourne and Bargy to Cantebury (Hore 1900-11, vol. 3, 43). In 1245 Christchurch passed on their rights to specific churches in Bargy, including Brandane, to the Cistercian abbey of Tintern (WX045-027001-) (ibid. vol. 2, 27-9). The chapel at Brandane may have been a chantry chapel as it is required in this document to provide perpetual masses for the dead, especially for the soul of the donor, Hervey. The name Brandane derives from Brendan (Bréanainn), and there are three saints of this name in Ireland (Ó Riain 2011, 114-18). The village of St. Brandan and 180 acres were rented by Tintern abbey to Patrick Brown at the Suppression in 1540 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 2, 77), but the chapel is not mentioned. It is located towards the bottom of a slight N-facing slope, with a small E-W stream c. 50m to the N. There are descriptions of part of the W gable and side walls with no visible features and with no visible evidence of burial or enclosure (Hore 1901, vol. 2, 28; O'Flanagan 1933, vol. 2, 84). Nothing is visible at ground level in pasture. (O’Broin 1921, 121-2). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 22 July 2013