Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

Children's burial ground described by Cuppage (1986, 226, no. 699) as follows; 'This site was marked on the 1st edition of the OS map as a circular ring of dots. It is known locally as a fort and was identified by Hitchcock (1853, 401-3) as a rath. The field in which it is located is named 'Páirc an Leasa'. A cross-inscribed ogham stone [KE044-094002-] formerly acted as a lintel over the doorway to a D-shaped clochaun [KE044-094001-] which stood within the enclosure. This was removed by Hitchcock and presented to the Royal Irish Academy, along with a quernstone also found at the site. The ogham stone is now preserved in the NMI.
Ringfort [KE044-094----]: The site is severely disturbed and has been used as a quarry for road metal. Its E half is now occupied by an amorphous group of pits and mounds, but a curving bank of earth and stone can be traced around the W half of the site. The area covered by these features measures 23.5m N-S and 23m E-W. Windele (1848, 468-70) was locally informed that the site had been used as a burial ground for children but not within living memory. Some quartz stones scattered about the site today could have been introduced to mark burials'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 7 April 2022

References

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

Windele, J. 1848 Excursions in Kerry. Royal Irish Academy MS 12 C 11.

Hitchcock, R. 1848 An Account of the Discovery of Ogham Stones presented by Mr. Richard Hitchcock. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 4, 271-272.

Hitchcock, R. 1850 Extract from letter quoted in Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society 1, 140-141.

Hitchcock, R. 1853 Letter quoted in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 5, 401-403.