FANLOBBUS GRAVEYARD
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Fanlobbus graveyard dates back to the 7 th century – this monastic settlement was founded by St Goban Corr. The word Fanlobbus is derived from the Irish – Fan Leaba Ois – which translates as The Slope of the Fawn’s Bed. The word ‘Corr’ means ‘stooped’ and indicates perhaps the physical appearance of St Goban - perhaps from his time spent in his monastic cell. It was a large circular site covering 14 acres and circular in shape. The circular fence-line can still be seen. The present graveyard is only a quadrant of the original settlement. There is no trace of the original church; the ruins of the medieval church built in the 11 th century are still visible today.
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It is not known when the monastic settlement ceased in Fanlobbus, but during the reign of Queen Elizabeth most of the churches in West Cork were dissolved. The building was divided in two with the Protestant community using one section and the Catholics using the other. There is a large slab on the floor of the church which could be an alter stone or a tomb. It is said that Randal Óg Hurley of Ballinacarriga Castle is buried somewhere in the graveyard.
During the 16 th and 17 th centuries it fell into disrepair. In 1615 it is noted that the church was in total disrepair, and in 1699 we are told that there were neither seats nor pulpit, and some slates were missing from the roof. In 1695 Sir Richard Cox commissioned a new church to be built in Dunmanway for the Protestant community as most of the congregation were now living in the town. It was completed in 1704 and continued to serve the community until 1820, when the current church at St Mary’s on the Main Street was built directly behind the original one.
The name Fanlobbus continues to be used as the name of the parish, and is part of the Union of Churches of Coolkelure, Drimoleague and Drinagh. During the Famine of 1845 – 1849 Fanlobbus played a significant part. It was here that the bodies of the inmates who died in the workhouse nearby were buried in mass graves. The outline of these two mass graves can be identified in the back portion of the graveyard. The bodies were carried in carts from the workhouse and buried here, many without coffins. A commemorative cross was erected on the site to mark the 150 th anniversary of the Famine. The stone monument was erected by Dunmanway Environmental Awareness Group and Macra na Feirme in 1997.
During the 16 th and 17 th centuries it fell into disrepair. In 1615 it is noted that the church was in total disrepair, and in 1699 we are told that there were neither seats nor pulpit, and some slates were missing from the roof. In 1695 Sir Richard Cox commissioned a new church to be built in Dunmanway for the Protestant community as most of the congregation were now living in the town. It was completed in 1704 and continued to serve the community until 1820, when the current church at St Mary’s on the Main Street was built directly behind the original one.
The name Fanlobbus continues to be used as the name of the parish, and is part of the Union of Churches of Coolkelure, Drimoleague and Drinagh. During the Famine of 1845 – 1849 Fanlobbus played a significant part. It was here that the bodies of the inmates who died in the workhouse nearby were buried in mass graves. The outline of these two mass graves can be identified in the back portion of the graveyard. The bodies were carried in carts from the workhouse and buried here, many without coffins. A commemorative cross was erected on the site to mark the 150 th anniversary of the Famine. The stone monument was erected by Dunmanway Environmental Awareness Group and Macra na Feirme in 1997.