Ray, I think that you have probably the most likely explanation. In 1830, the Protestant population of the parish was 58, out of a gross population of 764. By 1860, the Protestant population had fallen to 18, out of a gross population of 470. After the 1880s the parish was combined with that of Leighmoney, and then Inishannon, so possibly the Protestant community had shrunk hugely. My g.g. grandfather was definitely renting the church as well as the other buildings. It states this categorically in the Rate Books and the Cancellation Books. At one time, up to the 1980s, the foundations of the church could be seen, but now it is very, very overgrown with nettles and brambles, and only the taller headstones of the graves in the surrounding churchyard can be seen, although the stone wall around the whole site is in a pretty good state. A neighbouring family offered to clear the site and make it approachable but were refused by the local authorities on the grounds that there are Catholic AND Protestant graves sharing the churchyard, I don't quite understand the reasoning in this, but then local authorities are always a mystery unto themselves..... What I am really wishing is that someone would read my postings, and come on-line and say " Oh, you want to read So-and-So's local history of Templemichael, it has all the information in there "........ There are so many local histories here in England, and I am sure in many other countries also, but I don't know of any for this area in Cork. The nearest Heritage Centre is a few miles west in Bandon, and apparently that only really covers the history of Bandon Town. Sigh!! So I will keep on digging..... Mary

Mary: "What I am really wishing is that someone would read my postings, and come on-line and say " Oh, you want to read So-and-So's local history of Templemichael, it has all the information in there "........" Wouldn't we all love to have those definitive histories of our ancestors' home parishes and townlands? But you know what would happen? We would read them once, put them back on the bookshelf and cease doing our research and missing out on the frustrations, tedium and joy of genealogical research. <GR> And we wouldn't have friends from around the world with whom we can share those frustrations, tedium and joy. Ray In summertime Minneapolis -----Original Message----- From: irl-kerry-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-kerry-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Mary Simpson Sent: Friday, June 08, 2007 11:29 AM To: IRL-CORK@rootsweb.com; Irl-kerry@rootsweb.com Subject: [IRL-KERRY] The conunrum Ray, I think that you have probably the most likely explanation. In 1830, the Protestant population of the parish was 58, out of a gross population of 764. By 1860, the Protestant population had fallen to 18, out of a gross population of 470. After the 1880s the parish was combined with that of Leighmoney, and then Inishannon, so possibly the Protestant community had shrunk hugely. My g.g. grandfather was definitely renting the church as well as the other buildings. It states this categorically in the Rate Books and the Cancellation Books. At one time, up to the 1980s, the foundations of the church could be seen, but now it is very, very overgrown with nettles and brambles, and only the taller headstones of the graves in the surrounding churchyard can be seen, although the stone wall around the whole site is in a pretty good state. A neighbouring family offered to clear the site and make it approachable but were refused by the local authorities on the grounds that there are Catholic AND Protestant graves sharing the churchyard, I don't quite understand the reasoning in this, but then local authorities are always a mystery unto themselves..... What I am really wishing is that someone would read my postings, and come on-line and say " Oh, you want to read So-and-So's local history of Templemichael, it has all the information in there "........ There are so many local histories here in England, and I am sure in many other countries also, but I don't know of any for this area in Cork. The nearest Heritage Centre is a few miles west in Bandon, and apparently that only really covers the history of Bandon Town. Sigh!! So I will keep on digging..... Mary