St Multose Church of Ireland — Attraction in The Municipal District of Bandon-Kinsale

Visited Kinsale on October 7th. Our tour guide strongly suggested we visit this Cathedral. We walked through the entrance and saw the doors to the sanctuary open to the left and it looked dark. Straight ahead of us was another doorway with the lights on into an open area. So we walked through the lit area. It looked a little dingy but many places do when they’re of this age. At the end of the open area was a staircase leading up to the gallery, overlooking the sanctuary. At the bottom of the stairs was a sign that read “no more than 40 visitors in the gallery”, implying the gallery was open. So we started up the stairs when an angry man came out of the gallery at the top of the steps and demanded to know what we were doing and strongly asked us to leave. I said we’d just come to see the gallery and the sign implied it was open but did so as we began walking back down the stairs to leave. He yelled at our group that a sign was placed inside the sanctuary, on another set of doors that lead from the sanctuary to the steps up to the gallery. Those doors were closed and blocked off from the sanctuary side. So we couldn’t see the sign or the fact that those doors were blocked off. I explained that and he continued to demand that we leave, as we were actually leaving. I said to my group “what a jerk” as we left back through the open area and back around to the open door to the sanctuary. We walked into the sanctuary for the first time and saw the blocked off doors and sign, indicating the gallery was closed, for the very first time. We also heard the angry man talking to another church staff person in the gallery. He said loudly to her “a group just tried to come up the stairs. STUPID Americans”. Our entire group was stunned. So I looked up at the lady in the gallery the angry man was speaking to as she looked at me. I couldn’t see him. I repeated that we came in and saw no indication the area was closed because the only signage indicated that was in an area we hadn’t seen yet. And I explained that we left when he asked us to. All the man had to do was say “I’m sorry folks, this area is closed”. We would have immediately apologized and left. But this man had to treat react and treat us in a most ungodly way inside a house of god. The experience really shook up our group for the rest of the day. So I encourage any visitors to stay away from this place. It’s not...

Oldest continuously in use church in Ireland. What a surprise. Steeped in history. Plenty of information for visitors but not presented as a tourist event and a very low key request for offerings to assist the church. Magnificent stained glass windows and many memorials to the dead of WW1 from the parish. The graveyard looks and feels ancient. Some of the dead from the Lusitania ( the wreck lies 20 miles of the Head of Kindle): are buried here. Odd historical footnote- Charles 1 was announced as King of England here. As I left I saw a gravestone with just one word carved on it - Lydia - which was deeply moving and mysterious. I did not have time to inquire further but will be back. I recommend that you stand or sit still for a while and let the unique mood of the place...

Surely one of the most historical and interesting churches in Cork. Dating from the 12th. Century and packed with interesting features such as dedications, stained glass, medieval slabs and windows as well as the graveyard on its grounds. Plenty to see here as there is information signs regarding most items on display. Highly recommended if yourein Kinsale. No entrance fee. Parking...