churches historical cork

An Early Christian monastery founded possibly by St. Berichter or Berchert who, with his father (a Saxon Prince) and two brothers, came to Ireland after the Synod of Whitby in 664. Another saint of the same name, who was possibly also Abbot of the monastery, died in 839.

The existing church is of various dates. The south end of the east wall is probably the oldest part (12th century?) while the south door and window are early 13th century. The present chancel was built in the 15th ce...

Little is known about the history of the place, but a monastery may have been founded here by St. Abban, though it is also connected with other saints. Near the road is a 12th or 13th century church with antae, and with an unusual pointed east window which is off-centre. The west end would seem to have been added on later, as were possibly the other buildings to the north and south of the church, of which only the foundations remain. A few hundred yards to the north-north-east is a larger chu...

This is a Church of Ireland Building which dates from 1250, and was again developed in 1464 and contains some very interesting tombs, effigies and monuments including the tomb of Margaret Countess of Desmond who danced with Henry VII after the battle of bosworth and died at the age of 147 following a fall from a cherry tree. The church has a beautiful interior, especially the great east window....

St. Annes church and steeple, built in 1722, reaches 37m high into the Cork skyline and is a much loved local landmark and tourist attraction. Its famous chime of 8 bells made by Rudal of Gloucester together weigh over 6 tonnes. Its walls are 7ft thick and have both a sandstone and limestone facing, from which Cork takes its colours red and white. The clock made by Mangans of Cork, is affectionately known as a four faced liar, since the east and west facings tell slightly different times. Th...

In the grounds of the St. John of God Brothers, this church was dedicated to St. Croine, about whom nothing is known. It stands on a plinth which may have belonged to an older church, and the present flat-headed south doorway may have stood in the west wall of the older church before it was put in its present position when the whole church was heavily rebuilt at some unknown date. In 1530 the church was occupied by monks from St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin....

HISTORIC TRAIL - 1. The Benedictine Priory: This is located in the North Main Street and was founded in the 14th Century. The carved doorway gives access to the site of the chapel. 2. The Alms Houses Located in the main street these date back to the early 17th Century. Built by Boyle, first Earl of Cork and father of the famous physicist. 3. St Mary's Collegiate Church: This is the one of the most interesting ancient parish churches in the Country still in use. It was completed...

Youghal has been a flourishing town since the 13th century, if not before. It was sacked by the Rebel Earl of Desmond in 1579. In 1588-9 its mayor was Walter Raleigh, who, though he spent little time in it, is alleged by tradition to have planted the first Irish potato there. Owned by Richard Boyle (afterwards Earl of Cork) in the early 17th century, it was blockaded by Lord Castlehaven in 1645. Cromwell, to whom the town gave allegiance, used it as the base for his Irish expedition, and sa...

Kinsale can easily claim its place amongst Ireland's most historic locations for this has been a centre of population, commerce, trade and fishing far beyond memory and record. In its earliest days the estuary of the Bandon River gave it great importance as the river is tidal as far as Innishannon and water transport was dominant until the 18th Century. The estuary also provided excellent anchorage for ancient shipping which went in peril of the vagaries of the weather. The town nestles betw...

In the 17th and 18th centuries Kinsale was an important English naval base. This is reflected in the architecture of the town which, with its 18th century flavour and a whiff of the distant southern shores reached by its mariners, makes Kinsale into the town with what, in my opinion, is the most individual character in the country. In the town and its surroundings are some interesting monuments. St. Multose Church: The present Church of Ireland Parish church, founded probably by de Cogan...

On the site of a monastery founded by St. Molaga who lived in the 7th century, there is a small primitive-looking church with antae and a flat-headed doorway made of 3 stones. near the south wall of the church is a stone with a spiral volute which is said to mark the tomb of St Molaga. Nearby are the remains of a later church. The present graveyard is surrounded by a wall which is probably ancient...