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.