Glantane: Church, Crafts and History

Glantane focuses on two distinctive aspects of its local history: the development of the Catholic church and a local craft tradition. The church stands in a ravine at the southern end of the village. Historical details include an early, small church building and the present church with later features. Anyone interested in specific historical details rather than simply a list of place names will find a clearly defined cultural focus here.

Church and Local History

Glantane’s first Catholic church was a small, thatched, cruciform building, opened in 1821. The present Catholic church was opened in 1878 and is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The Diocese of Cloyne lists St John the Baptist as the parish church in Glantane. Until the new church was built in Drommahane, Glantane’s church was the parish’s main church. This places the history of the first church building, the present church and its former role as the main parish church in distinct stages.

The bell bears the inscription “SANCTE JOANNES BAPTISTA ORO PRO NOBIS 1877”; the present church opened a year later. Behind the sanctuary are three stained-glass windows, made and installed in Munich in 1905. The bell and windows add clearly dated details to the building’s history. If you would like to see inside the church, check in advance on current access arrangements.

The original Stations of the Cross also tell a distinct local story: they were funded by weekly collections among the employees of the Lombardstown creamery. The church’s history thus draws attention not only to construction dates and dedication, but also to the involvement of the creamery workers.

Crafts and Local Traditions

In the 1880s, baskets with Sugán handles were made in Glantane; families were also involved in weaving and spinning. These crafts offer a second cultural perspective alongside the church’s history. For planning your trip, Glantane’s focus can be clearly described as local architectural history and traditional work. If you are choosing a holiday rental based on the subjects that interest you during your stay, this focus can be a useful factor when selecting a destination.

Cork as a Wider Destination

The wider destination of Cork offers other historical perspectives. Barryscourt Castle in Carrigtwohill was built between 1392 and 1420 as an Irish tower house. Charles Fort in Kinsale was built between 1677 and 1682 to protect the town and its harbour; from its walls and ramparts, you can look out over the harbour. Their different construction dates and purposes offer a distinct comparison with Glantane’s church history.

Gardens offer another perspective on Cork. Fota Arboretum covers 11 hectares and is home to rare, delicate trees and shrubs that grow outdoors. The gardens at Fota include an ornamental pond, formal pleasure gardens, an orangery and a sun temple. Ilnacullin, meanwhile, is a small island garden in the sheltered coastal harbour of Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, with horticultural and architectural features. When planning your holiday, you can weigh Glantane’s clearly defined local history against other historical or garden-related interests in the wider Cork area.

Discover more destinations: Bantry, Ringaskiddy, Belgooly, Dunmanway, Ballingeary, Dernagree, Carrigtohill, Glenville.

For the wider travel overview: Cork.