St Senans Church

In wooded churchyard, C of I parish church of Inishcarra; earlier parish church, now in ruins, located c. 2 km to SSE (CO073-037001-). Church consists of rectangular nave (15.4m E-W; 7.75m N-S) with pinnacled 3-storey tower (4.4m E-W; 5.75m N-S) attached at W end, and chancel at E end. Nave, built in 1818 (Cole 1903, 213; Lewis 1837, vol. 2, 19), lit by three pointed windows with Y-tracery in S wall; gallery at W end with memorials to Colthurst family; shallow square chancel added in 1893 (ibid.). Entrance door in Swall of tower; tower has string course between floors and embattled top; stone plaque over door commemorates erection of tower in 1819 (ibid.). Churchyard contains some 19th and 20th century burials, SE of church. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

St Senan's Church at Carrigyknaveen is a 12th- to 13th-century ecclesiastical site dedicated to St Senan, an early Irish saint associated with monastic foundations in Munster. The church is significant as an example of early medieval monastic architecture and as part of a long-standing Christian tradition in the region.