Saint Craunacht's Church

Freestanding gable-fronted Roman Catholic church, built 1860, facing west, with five-bay nave elevations, gabled bellcote to west gable with carved limestone cross finial, gabled porch to north elevation and lower two-bay sacristy to east elevation. Pitched slate roof with dressed limestone copings and carved limestone brackets to gables, cast-iron rainwater goods, and with cast-iron cross finials to sacristy and porch gables. Snecked cut limestone walls with dressed limestone plinth and buttresses dividing bays to nave and to corners. Pointed arch window openings, double-light to nave elevations and five-light to east gable, with dressed limestone surrounds, carved limestone tracery and stained glass. Pointed arch door openings to porch and sacristy with timber battened doors, chamfered limestone surrounds and voussoirs. Interior has scissors truss timber roof. Carved marble altar table to front of ornate carved marble reredos comprising Tudor arch centrepiece having ornate tabernacle in form of cathedral front, above shallow altar table comprising entablature supported on colonettes, all flanked by clustered columns, in turn flanked by gabled side details with clustered columns to each side and having Tudor arch recess to lower part, pointed arch statue niche to upper part. Limestone flag stones to floor, stained glass windows.

This church makes a notable and imposing feature along the main Mallow to Mitchelstown road. Its simple form is enhanced by the tall bellcote and gabled porch and the regular form of the nave elevations is articulated by the buttresses. The simple decoration of the windows is well suited to the modest form of the building. The interior retains notable features, such as the scissors truss roof and more especially the highly detailed reredos which is of an unusually elaborate and ornate form, making this building one of particular distinction.