Aghinagh Church

Just N of centre in graveyard (CO071-102001-), ruin of C of I parish church of Aghinagh. Church consists of rectangular nave (int.: 12.35m E-W; 6.3m N-S; see plan Henchion 1967, 102) with 3-storey tower (3.25m E-W; 4m N-S) at W end, and shallow rectangular chancel (int.: 2.45m E-W; 3.65m N-S) added to E end. Entered through door with pointed arch in S wall of tower; also narrow door in internal N wall of tower which leads, via narrow stone stairs, to gallery at W end of nave, and to 1st floor of tower. Nave lit by series of three windows, with stone switchline tracery, in S wall; more elaborate stone tracery in E window of chancel. Ground floor of tower covered by double barrel vault; each floor marked externally by string course; shallow quatrefoil niches on 1st floor; battlements entirely fallen. In W wall of tower, at ground floor level, pointed window with moulded hood; directly above window, and re-set into wall face, is very worn stone head, wearing what appears to be mitre (H c. 30cms; Wth c.15cms). East half of church now overgrown; chancel contains 19th century burial plot. Built on site of earlier parish church which fell into ruins between 1615 and 1774 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 18-9). Nave and tower built in 1792 (ibid., 20); chancel added in 1854 when church also re-roofed (ibid., 21; Cole 1903, 151); 'dismantled' in 1889 and a ruin ever since (ibid.).