Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

On level ground with wide views, in an area of undulating pastureland and limestone outcrops within an extensive multiperiod field system (CL009-001001-). Indicated and labelled 'Ballygastell Grave Yard' on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. Listed as ‘Graveyard’ in the RMP (1996). Named 'Cill Bhaile Uí Ghaistéil' on Robinson's (1977) map. This subrectangular children's burial ground (int. dims. 29.5m N-S; 22.6m E-W) is defined by a collapsed and grassed-covered earth and stone wall (Wth 1.3m; Wth with tumble 2.4m; int. H 0.2-0.6m; ext. H 0.4-1.2m), in which inner and outer wall-faces of upright limestone slabs are visible intermittently. There may be an external fosse at the S, marked by a shallow nettle-filled band of slightly lower ground (Wth 1.1m) running parallel to the wall. At the SE this wall has been reduced to a barely visible scarp (L c. 3-4m), which may be the remains of an entrance. There is a small cattle gap at the S. The overgrown interior is generally flat. The S half contains many upright limestone slabs (av. H 0.25m; Wth 0.25m; T 0.08m); some of these are in rows oriented N-S, especially in the SW quadrant. Most of the slabs are simple and unworked, but several are finely shaped. This includes a prominent standing stone (CL008-055002-) near the W edge of the enclosure. In the SE corner is a low oval-shaped earth and stone platform (4m N-S; 3m E-W; H 0.7m), with a limestone slab (L 0.95m; Wth 0.65m; T 0.16m) lying prone on its W edge and a low, SE-leaning worked upright (H 0.85m; Wth 0.32m; T 0.11m) standing at the SE edge. Several low surface undulations in the N half of the enclosure may be grassed-covered uprights.

The following images have been uploaded:
CL008-055----_01.jpg Overall view from S
CL008-055----_02.jpg View of interior from E

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 12 October 2022

References

Robinson, T. 1977 (reprint 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of North-West Clare. Map Scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.

Record of Monuments and Places as established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, County Clare. Issued by National Monuments and Historic Properties Service 1996. Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.