Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

Templenacloonagh/Teampall na Cluanach: Sub-rectangular enclosure KE042-113001- lies on a very gentle WNW facing slope and commands a good clear view in all directions, particularly NW to Smerwick Harbour. Within it can be seen the remains of an oratory, a 2nd building which is possibly a church, and 2 possible hut sites.

Children were still being interred here in the 19th century (OSNB Kilmalkedar, 31) and the numerous graves and gravemarkers spread about the interior probably relate to this secondary calluragh phase at the site. The graves are marked either by long thin slabs set on edge, on average .5m high x .5 to .75m wide x .2m thick, or by box-like arrangements of small stones on edge enclosing an area on average 1 to 1.2m x .6m.

The enclosure measures 40.75m N-S x 32.25m E-W internally and is defined along its S and E sides by a stone and earth bank, no more than .7m high and faced intermittently with dry stone masonry, along its N side by a gentle drop of .3m from the interior to the external ground level, and along its W side by a dry stone-built wall measuring 1 to 1.5m in width and a maximum of .5m internally and 1.2m externally in height. Differences in construction between various parts of this latter wall suggest that it has undergone considerable rebuilding, probably related to its more recent use as a field boundary. Another field wall, now disused, bisects the site E-W.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 866. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 9 August 2013