Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Church and graveyard decsribed by Toal (1995, no. 929) as follows; 'Aghavallen Church (KE002-058----) would appear to be of 15th century date. Originally a Catholic church it was later re-used as a Protestant church. A large number of 19th century landed gentry such as the Crosbies, Sandes, Popes and Colts are buried here'.

In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details: 'In 1858 Aghavallen church was closed when a new church was built nearby. As well as the Ponsonbys, Aghavallen is also the burial place of several other notable families of the area including the Crosbies (Rusheen House), Colt, Pope and Sandes families (Bary 1994, 215; Toal 1995, 238). Boundary walls are constructed with uncoursed rubble sandstone and limestone bedded in mortar and capped with ‘soldiers’ and are generally in good condition. The north boundary wall diminishes in height as it runs east and is covered in ivy and near impossible to examine. The eastern boundary wall is very difficult to examine and survives merely as an earthen field boundary covered in mature sycamore trees and other bushes making the entire eastern limits of the graveyard and church overgrown, very difficult to negotiate, damp and dark. Entry into the graveyard is gained through a single wrought iron gate hanging between two tall round piers of rubble stone and capped with ‘soldiers’.
Able-bodied pedestrian access is also provided for by a stone stepped-stile accommodated in the boundary wall beside the gate. The gate and stile are in good condition. There are 15 tombs recorded in Aghavallen church and graveyard. However, it is likely that a couple of others may be located in the west end of the church ruins which was inaccessible during the course of this survey. There are a variety of tomb types including, strong-box, house-shaped, coffin-shaped, lean-to and simple box-shaped (208, 214, 219, 224). Twelve named tombs were recorded in varying states of preservation in Aghavallen Graveyard. Three unnamed tombs were recorded in various states of preservation. A total of 131 named headstones (HN) were recorded in Aghavallen graveyard. Sixty six unnamed graves were recorded within the graveyard, the majority comprising simple unhewn stone gravemarkers as well as some simple iron or wooden crosses. Five rectangular 19th century grave slabs were recorded of which only one (234) was illegible' (Dunne 2010, 3-9).

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 9 June 2022

References

Dunne, L. 2010 Archaeological Survey, Aghavallen Graveyard, Rusheen, Ballylongford, Co. Kerry. Unpublished report for The Heritage Office, Kerry County Council (SMR file).

Bary, V. 1994 Houses of Kerry. Ballinakella Press. Co. Clare.

Toal, C. 1995 North Kerry Archaeological Survey. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority.