1993:014 - TEMPLEMOLAGGA CHURCH, Aghacross, Cork

Following an architectural survey of the ruined 12th-16th-century church at Aghacross, Cork Co. Council decided to fund a programme of consolidation, centering on the east end of the church. This was to be preceded by excavation of a narrow trench to reveal the external wall foundations. The excavation confirmed what was already suspected, that the east end, an extension to a 12th-century church, revealed two phases of building. The first phase—probably 15th century—was represented by a few basal courses of pure sandstone construction. This was directly overlain by the base batter of the present structure, which mixes sandstone and limestone in its construction. The latter is probably late 15th-early 16th century in date and was itself partially rebuilt. The deposits covering the foundations were so cut about by graves as to leave no intact stratigraphy contemporary with the church's existence, except for the edge of some fragmentary structural remains close to the north-east corner, which were not pursued further. Finds were limited to disturbed human bones and recent coffin fragments. The excavation report will be presented to Cork Co. Council and summarised in a forthcoming Cork Co. Council publication on the church (Hanley and Weaver, 1994).

7 Aldergrove, Highfield West, Cork