Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture on rise of ground with stream 50m to S, Balllylongford Creek 60m to W. Ringfort annotated Lisrory (KE003-031----) 30m W of SW corner of graveyard. Graveyard attached to S side of Lislaughtin Abbey (KE003-016----) depicted as a square-shaped area (dims. c. 52m N-S x 60m E-W) enclosed by post-1700 stone wall on the 1841 ed. OSi 6-inch map. Between 1841 and 1892 the graveyard appears to have been extended to the S as it is depicted as a larger rectangular shaped graveyard (dims. c. 80m N-S x 65m E-W) on the 1892 ed. OSi 25-inch map with entrance at NE corner and pathway running around the edge of the graveyard. Graveyard described by Toal (1995, no. 965) as follows; 'Lislaughtin Abbey (in ruins) is situated N of Glashanagalloon stream (Glaise na nGealbhan, stream of the sparrows), and N of the friary lies Ballylongford Creek. This Franciscan house was built by John O'Connor Kerry for the monks of the strict Observantine Rule'.

In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details: 'The Franciscan friary [KE003-016----] overlooks the meandering Ballyline River estuary otherwise known as Ballylongford Creek to north and west. Ballylongford Creek debouches into the River Shannon Mouth at Carrig Island. The Glashanagalloon Stream more or less waters its southern limits where it issues into Ballylongford Creek. The site is located on gently sloping ground with views in all directions locally restricted somewhat due to local topography. Entry into the graveyard and friary is gained through a single modern wrought iron black painted gate at the north-eastern limits of the graveyard. The gate is set between two square piers of limestone that has a substantial cover of ivy. The capping on the piers could not be discerned due to the ivy cover. Boundary walls are up to 1.8m high max. internally (averaging 1.4m), and are constructed with rubble stone built to courses and bedded with a gritty pebbly mortar and capped with ‘soldiers’ and are generally in good condition. However, large areas covered in substantial ivy and repairs are necessary to section mid-way along east boundary wall. Only seventeen tombs were recorded in Lislaughtin in the course of this survey of which ten are named. Seven unnamed tombs (606, 611,631, 636, 641, 646 and 655) were recorded in various states of preservation of which tomb 646 built of ashlar masonry is in very good condition. A total of 580 named and generally modern headstones (HN) were recorded in Lislaughtin graveyard. There were no medieval gravemarkers or inscriptions predating the last decade of the 18th century noted or recorded in the course of this survey. There were 62 unnamed headstones (HWN) in total recorded in the course of this survey. The majority of the unnamed graves mainly comprise unhewn stones although a few are simple iron crosses' (Dunne 2010, 8-11).

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 9 June 2022

References

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

ASIAP - Archaeological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1996 - c. 2010).

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