Coole Upper Churches facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coole Upper Churches
Teampaill na Cúile Uachtaraí
"New" church at Coole
Coole Upper Churches Location in Ireland
52°06′32″N 8°12′15″W / 52.108864°N 8.204076°W / 52.108864; -8.204076
Location	Coole Upper, Fermoy, County Cork
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Church of Ireland
Previous denomination	Catholic
Architecture
Functional status	inactive
Administration
Diocese	Cloyne

The Coole Upper Churches are two very old churches from the medieval period, found in County Cork, Ireland. These churches are so important that they are now protected as a National Monument of Ireland. This means they are special historical sites that help us learn about the past!

Where are These Churches Located?

You can find the Coole Upper Churches about 2.9 kilometers (about 1.8 miles) northeast of a place called Castlelyons. They are in a quiet area, perfect for exploring history.

A Look Back: History of Coole Upper Churches

The area around Coole Upper has a long history, connected to two important saints from long ago: Abbán and Dalbach.

Building the Churches: A Medieval Story

The larger of the two churches at Coole Upper was built in the 12th century. It started as a simple church with just one main room, called a nave. The nave is the central part of a church where people gather for services. This church also had special wall extensions called antae.

Later, in the 13th century, another part was added to the church. This new section was called the chancel. The chancel is the area near the altar, often used by the clergy (like priests or ministers). This part of the church has a unique, narrow window with two lights (sections) in the east wall. This window has an ogee shape, which is a curved, S-shaped design. You can also see a beautiful rosette carved into one of the stones on the east wall. A rosette is a round, flower-like design.

These old churches stand as a reminder of the people who lived and worshipped here many centuries ago.