Ballyseedy Church

National Monument No. 10067. Ballyseedy (Bailte Ó Síoda/O'Sheedy's town) is a parish in the diocese of Ardfert. The 1302-07 Papal Taxation of the Deanery of Hac[nye] in the Diocese of Ardfert valued the church of ‘Balisida’ as 10s. per annum with the tenth valued at 12d. (Cal. doc. Ire., Vol. 5, 296). In 1307 in a dispute between Philip le Furetter and Hugh de Barry, there is a reference to Nicholas O'Molran who was described as 'a felon who abjured [renounce by oath] of the land out of the church of Ballysyd' (Cal. justic. rolls, Ire. Edw. I , Vol. 2, 409-10). In 1615 the Royal Visitation of the Diocese of Ardfert there is a reference to Jessy Gilbert, reading minister and the vicarage of 'Baltosyea' which was then valued at £6 (Murphy 1915, 183)

Overgrown ivy-covered church ruins (int. dims. 14.1m E-W x 6m N-S; Wall T 1.05m) standing in NW quadrant of graveyard (KE038-021001-) with 19th century Church of Ireland church (NIAH Reg. No. 21303801) 30m to S. Ballyseedy Church ruins described in 1841 as follows; ‘The old church of this Parish is situated in Ballyseedy demesne, and its walls are nearly perfect. It measures on the inside forty eight feet [14.6m] in length and nineteen feet six inches [6m] in breadth and its walls are three feet three inches [1m] in thickness and eight feet [2.4m] in height and built of quarried lime stones, and lime and sand cement. The East window is formed of brown sand stone and lime stone chiselled; it is pointed on the outside and divided into two lights by a stone mullion; it measures on this side (where it is placed at the height of four feet [1.2m] from the ground) five feet [1.5m] in height and one foot eight inches in width, each light seven inches. On the inside it forms a flat arch at top, is formed of thin stones in a rude style, and measures five feet ten inches [1.7m] in height and four feet [1.3m] in width. The doorway was on the South wall at the distance of fifteen feet [4.5m] from the West gable, but it has been recently rebuilt and no part of the old work of it is visible. There was a window on the West gable, but it was destroyed and the breach filled up with modern mason-work. This church is not three centuries old; it stands in a large grave yard much used as a cemetery (OSL).

Church ruins described in 2008 (Buckley and Dunne 2008, 10-12) as follows; 'The ruin of this rectangular medieval church, 16.35m east-west by 7.9m north-south externally (internally 14.35m X 5.9m) is located in the northwestern corner of the graveyard. The church is almost completely overgrown with ivy and trees, with the exception of the exterior west elevation. Most of the walls survive either to full height or close to it. The eastern gable survives to around the same height as the side walls. Large tree roots are growing within the fabric of the building and on the tombs and are pushing out some stones which will eventually cause large areas of collapse. Two very large tombs are located within the interior on the eastern end, severely limiting access to the eastern elevation to a narrow gap between them. This is currently impassable due to brambles. However, limited difficult access to the east window was eventually gained and is described below.

Immediately inside the southern doorway to the east, a grave has collapsed exposing a small opening through which the human remains can be seen. At least three other tombs are hidden beneath the growth at the western end of the church.

Eastern elevation

The eastern elevation is completely overgrown with ivy and is virtually inaccessible due to the location of tombs and overgrowth in general. Curry records it as 'formed of brown sandstone and limestone chiselled; it is pointed on the outside and divided into two lights by a stone mullion (ibid).

Subsequent to clearing and scrambling a limited examination of the interior of the east window was possible. Apart from the window very little else could be seen and no fabric was exposed. It was apparent however that gable did not survive much over the height of the window. The window as Curry recorded is indeed twin lighted, 175mm in width, with intact ogee heads carved from limestone, most likely dating from the fifteenth century. The dividing limestone mullion, 140mm in width, also survives to full height, however the vertical central dividing section between the double rebate only partially survives. The exterior of the mullion appears to be sharply chamfered. The sides of the window are made with sandstone as well as limestone. The window is set in a widely spayed embrasure that expands from a width of 0.60m at the window to 1.2m at its outer limits. Two sets of draw bar sockets were also noted within the embrasure. The base or cill of the window and embrasure could not be determined due to build up of earth and growth however a measured current height of circa 1.7m was taken for the embrasure and 1.5m for the interior of the window. The outer voussoirs of the embrasure arch have been robbed out. The window is not visible on the outside.

Southern elevation

This side wall is almost fully obscured by ivy but appears to survive almost to full height. The entrance door is located towards the western end 4.5m from the southwest corner, where some of the rubble sandstone construction can be seen. The southern doorway was rebuilt just before Curry’s visit in 1841, who goes on to state that no part of the old work of the doorway survives (ibid). Access to the church interior is gained up a limestone step against which the dilapidated remains of an iron gate pivoting from the east side of the doorway.

Western elevation

The interior of the western elevation is completely obscured by ivy and was inaccessible due to the presence of tombs and overgrowth in general.

The exterior of the west gabled elevation is the best preserved section of the church and survives virtually to full height. The limestone and sandstone rubble stone wall is almost free from ivy on its exterior. A blocked up window ope is also visible, c. 1.2m above present ground level.

Northern elevation

Virtually no access could be made to assess the interior of the north side wall that does appear to survive to a good height. A partially blocked up opening, 1.16m wide, and possibly a doorway is located 3.9m from the northeast corner. The exterior of this wall was inaccessible for assessment.