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BALLYBRIEST COURT TOMB
Map Reference: H762885
Ballybriest, or Carnanbane, is a dual court-tomb with a forecourt at either end
leading to burial galleries placed back-to-back but not quite on the same axis. Land clearance in the 18th and 19th centuries
removed the northern half of the monument and the tomb is now stripped of its cairn. To the west is an ovel court but the
north side of this is not original. It leads to a two-chambered gallery. The depth of the court is about 4.5m and the gallery
is about 6m long. The tomb to the east is more ruinous. It has a larger court about 4.5m wide at the front and about 5m deep.
Only fragments of the gallery, about 4m long, remain. Excavation in the 1930s revealed burnt bone and Neolithic pottery sherds.
The chambered tomb to the south (H763883) is a wedge-tomb. It is about 5.5m long by 3.5m wide at the
front and consists of a single chamber covered by two capstones. To the east (H765886) was another wedge-tomb. It was removed
because of encroachment on the site by gravel quarrying. The stones have been stored and it is hoped to re-erect the tomb
at a suitable location. It also had a single chamber covered by two capstones. It was about 3.5m long by 2m wide at the front.
The entrance to both these tombs was in the west.
BANAGHER CHURCH
Map Reference: C676066
Banagher Church is said to have been founded by Muiredagh O'Heney, a local saint of unknown date. Near the entrance to the
graveyard are the remains of a small square building. It is featureless except for a door lintel which may not be original.
The church is a nave-and-chancel structure. It may date from the 12th century with the chancel being added in the 13th century.It
has a very fine west doorway with a massive lintel and an excellent square moulding. The inside of the doorway is round. The
south wall of the nave has a fine, deeply-recessed, round-headed window and a similar window in the south wall of the chancel
has very fine moulding. Both windows have good exterior moulding. There is a trace of a window in the north wall but the east
wall is almost entirely gone. However a fragment of an ambry may be seen in the east wall. The former existence of a chancel
arch is suggested by the moulded bases of the pillars. The outer corners of the chancel have attached moulded pillars with
carved capitals. One of these features a beast with a long tail.
In the churchyard is a magnificent church-shaped tomb with a carved panel at the west end featuring a cleric. It probably
dates from the 13th century and may be the reliquary tomb of the saint. Near the east edge of the graveyard is a crude stone
cross. A similar cross may be seen at the roadside a short distance away. There are a number of fine memorial stones. One
of them depicts a skull-and-crossbones and other symbols of mortality. They all have coats-of-arms by any inscriptions are
illegible.
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