Church

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 10032. Calluragh burial ground (KE034-023001-) /An Cheallúnach: Situated on the lower W slopes of Brandon mountain, this burial ground lies at the N side of a sub-rectangular field, 49m E-W x 35m N-S, which is enclosed on the N, W and S sides by modern field walls and on its E side by a low scarp or step, revetted with a rough facing of large boulders. The slightly curved outline of the S wall may also indicate the existence of an earlier, possibly circular, enclosure.

The NE corner of the field is occupied by the ruined foundations of a rectangular building (KE034-023003-) which measures 6.1m E-W x 3.4m N-S internally. The walls are reduced to a grass-grown band of stone collapse, 1.5m wide and no more than .5m high, though one possible outer facing stone remains in situ in the N wall. A possible entrance, .6m wide, lies at the E side of the S wall. This structure has previously been interpreted as a church (Curran no.23), but no features survive which might confirm this suggestion. The remainder of the field was formerly cultivated (Curran) and the only other features now visible are a group of 3 stones set on edge in the E sector and a single stone set on edge in the NE corner; it is possible that the latter defined one side of an entrance, the other side being marked by an outward turn in the stone-faced scarp. The lower disc of a rotary quern was found lying against the S wall of the field.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 817. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013