Reisk / An Riasc The Remains of a Medieval Church The rectangular graveyard at Reisk is so badly overgrown it is almost impossible to spot the parish church. In the image below we can see the pointed chancel arch with it's uncut voussoirs. Nestled into the wall at the top of the keystone is a carved head of Dundry stone, as the church is dedicated to her I presume it may be a representation of the Blessed Virgin. Hidden in the vegetation is a circular font with four lugs, bud sadly on this occasion we were unable to locate it.
Dundry stone is a yellow oolitic limestone quarried in Somerset in England. It was brought to Ireland after the Anglo-Norman invasion. The stonemasons and monks who came to Ireland with the Normans were used to working with this material, so naturally the stone was imported for the construction of the abbeys and churches. Because it was such a heavy material you will mainly find it in structures near points of entry, such as the ports of Drogheda, Dublin, Youghal, Wexford and Waterford. Unsuprisingly the majority of structures featuring Dundry stone can be found in Counties Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny along the banks of the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir. The Anglo-Norman Lord William Marshall established a port on the river Barrow at New Ross. Dundry stone was tastefully used on the facade of the Medieval Museum in Waterford. |
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Situated: From Waterford City take the R680 SW for Cork. After 2 kilometres turn left for Kilbarry, just after the garage. Stay on the R682 for about 9 kilometres. Just passed an entrance to a private house is a small farm track, not sign-posted. The overgrown graveyard is about 25 metres up this track. Good Luck. Discovery Map 75: S 53650 04340. Last visit July 2021. Longitude: 7° 12' 58.1" W Latitude: 52° 11' 18.9" N Photos: José Gutiérrez. |
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