St Mary’s Church, Bannow

St Mary’s Church, Bannow

Features

St Mary’s Church Bannow is a windswept, ruined medieval church on County Wexford’s south coast.

Facing the Celtic sea on two sides, the church is in a stark and lonely filming location on the Bannow headland. Around the ruin is a working graveyard, and from this graveyard, there are sweeping views of the ocean.

The church was built in the 13th century by the Normans. The crumbling and roofless stone church features a nave and chancel. The top of its walls are crenellated, meaning that when this church was built, it was meant to act as a defensive structure against attack. The interior of the church contains more graves. Exquisite stone carvings can also be found inside the church.

The ruined medieval church has strong connections to the Normans, because, as well as being built by them, the nearby beach, Bannow Bay Beach, is where they first landed in Ireland. Also, a large medieval Norman town once existed on the headland, but there are no signs left of this town, except the lonely windswept church.

More Info

Near Carrick, 5km away.

Parking: Carpark fits 10-15 cars.

Nearest town: New Ross, 33km away.

Photographer: Gordon Wycherly