Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

In level pasture, drained to E and S by the River Greese, Colbinstown Castle (KD032-045----) lies 580m to NE. An oval area (64m E-W; 52m N-S) is enclosed by a modern stone wall with an entrance gate at NNW. Internally, the W half of the monument rises to a level oval area (25m E-W; 19.5m N-S) from where the ground slopes down to the enclosing wall S-W-N (H above S 4.2m; H above W 3m; H above N 2.3m), but to the E a short low scarp (H 1m) drops to a lower level terrace (diam. 10m E-W; H over E 2.8m), the base of which is retained by intermittently visible facing stones (av. H 0.9m; Wth 1m; visible T 0.15m), possibly a relatively modern feature associated with the enclosing of the burial ground which, according to Fitzgerald (1899-1902, 152) took place c. 1830, when trees were also planted on the monument. A possible church site (KD032-044019-) was located on the summit of the graveyard. Burials date from the 18th to the 20th-century.
Burial ground excavated in 1929 by Macalister and Praeger who recorded that the glacial hillock was ‘neatly revetted with flattish slabs of Silurian grit (the local rock), ranging in diameter from 1 ft. 6 ins. [0.45m] to about 4 ft. [1.2m]. This revetment is most perfect on the northern side of the subordinate section of the mound, and (to a lesser extent) on the eastern face of the same section. Elsewhere, fragments only remain, the majority of the slabs having no doubt been appropriated to serve as tombstones: possibly also to serve as building material for the enclosing wall. No markings of any kind were found upon the revetment slabs. What the purpose of this operation may have been there is nothing to show: there may have been some intention of making an inauguration mound around the grave of some personage of importance. There are some indications that the upper section was likewise fenced in with a stone revetment where it abuts on the lower section, though most of the stones have disappeared. To this period are to be assigned the uninscribed pillar stones, including those inscribed in Ogham characters’ (Macalister and Praeger 1928-9, 251).
Macalister (1945, 22-31) recorded seven ogham stones in this burial ground (KD032-044001- to KD032-044007-), and Fitzgerald (op. cit. 148-63) recorded five possible pillar stones (KD032-044008-, KD032-044009-, KD032-044013-, KD032-044014- and KD032-044016-), two possible cross slabs (KD032-044010- and KD032-044015-) and two possible cross bases (KD032-044010- and KD032-044015-). Two more possible pillar stones are also present (KD032-044017- and KD032- KD032-044018-).

See attached drawing of Killen Cormac dating c. 1870, taken from Shearman 1873

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 29 August 2019

References

FitzGerald, Lord W. 1899-1902 Killeen Cormac. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 3, 148-63.

Macalister, R.A.S. 1945 Corpus inscriptionum insularum celticarum. Dublin. Stationery Office.

Macalister, R.A.S. and Praeger, R.L. 1928-9 Report on Excavation Recently Conducted in Killeen Cormac, Co. Kildare. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 38C, 247-61.

Shearman, Rev. J.F. 1873 Loca Patriciana No. 1 Killeen Cormac. Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland 2, 339-52.