Local History - Innishannon.

The old tower stands at the eastern end of the village on the banks of the River Bandon in the historic ruins of St. Mary's Church.It's history spans many centuries.In earlier times records show that it had Cistercian links.Annale entries(1489 and 1493)at the Cistercian Monastry in Tracton show that Raymond Barry, then abbot, bound himself for the rectories of parish churches of Innishannon and Dunderrow.

From the middle of the 16th. century the church served as the Church of Ireland up to 1856 when the new Christ church was built at the western end of the village.

Part of St. Mary's Church was re- built in 1761.When the new church was built in 1856 the preservatioon of the old church was due to Rev. R.H.Marsell-Eyre who was rector there at the time.He purchased the tower and used a little of the base for his family burial place.