A CHURCH with stained glass windows by renowned artist Harry Clarke, a collection of industrial mine buildings at Allihies and the iconic Fastnet Lighthouse are among 2,836 structures in west Cork tipped for protected status.
Built in 1827, St Barrahane’s Church of Ireland in Castletownshend was designed by architect James Pain and built using stone from Horse Island.
Set within the demesne of Castle Townshend, the building is accessed by a flight of 52 steps, a step for each Sunday in the year.
Original features such as the timber panelling and organ gallery remain intact, while the windows by Clarke were installed in the early 20th century. The elevated church is among 50 buildings in the coastal village to be included in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Launching the Architectural Heritage Survey of west Cork at Cork’s County Hall, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan TD noted the inclusion of landmark lighthouses such as Bull Island, Galley Head and Fastnet.
“[The Fastnet] is an iconic west Cork structure and a testament to the skill and dedication of those involved in its construction in the late 19th century,” Mr Deenihan said.