Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

On a level area of a very gentle S-facing slope, in rough pasture and mixed woodland, with a stream (running c. ENE-WSW) located c. 55m to S. Named on all historic OS mapping as ‘Grave Yard’ and encloses Shankill Church (CL035-089001-) to the immediate E and S. Westropp (1900-02, 149) refers to this site as ‘a graveyard and fragments of a church near Dangan Ivigen’. A sub-rectangular area (c. 40m NW-SE; c. 25m NE-SW) is defined by low, moss-covered collapsed stone walls. The church is located in the NW corner of the graveyard and the remains of a second rectangular structure (12.5m N-S; 7m E-W) are located c. 12m to SSE, adjoining the eastern boundary. The rectangular structure is defined by a collapsed moss-covered stone wall (H 0.45m; T 1m). The area to the immediate E and S of the church between the two structures has the highest concentration of loose moss-covered boulders and approximately fifteen low, uninscribed gravemarkers which are deliberately set upright and are likely to mark burials. The area may have been used as a children's burial ground at some stage and there is a modern plaque commemorating ‘An tSeanchill Cillín’ situated c. 6m to W of the rectangular structure.
The graveyard potentially includes the two small fields (c. 45m NE-SW; c. 22m NW-SE) adjoining to S, along by stream, where there are a number of low, uninscribed markers amongst some loose stone and rock outcrop. It may also extend to the field (c. 40m NW-SE; c. 20m NE-SW) adjoining to N and the field (c. 40m NW-SE; c. 25m NE-SW) to the immediate E, where mounds of loose stone are present that could potentially contain graveyard fragments (Large 2010, 338). An abandoned farmstead is located c. 40m to E so there may have been an overlap of use in the areas located between the graveyard and this former settlement.

The following images have been uploaded:

CL035-089002-_01.jpg From E. Modern plaque of ‘An tSeanchill Cillín’.
CL035-089002-_02.jpg From W. Four deliberately placed upright gravemarkers.
CL035-089002-_03.jpg From N. General view of concentration of upright markers and stones.
CL035-089002-_04.jpg From S. Cross-sectional view across interior of rectangular structure.
CL035-089002-_05.jpg From W. Two fields to S, along by stream, containing upright markers.
CL035-089002-_06.jpg From S. Field to E of field containing church and definitive graveyard.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 14 March 2018

References

Westropp, T.J. 1900-02 The churches of Co. Clare and the origin of the ecclesiastical divisions in that county. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Series 3, vol. 6, 100-180.

Large, S. 2011 A church and graveyard survey in County Clare. Database and photographic record. Clare County Council. Clare Heritage Forum. The Heritage Council.