Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Killagh graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Laurence Dunne as follows; 'The extant, rectangular abbey [KE047-047001-] occupies the northernmost limits of the graveyard with its N elevation forming most of the N boundary. Traces of its wider associated medieval complex of buildings are discernible abutting and protruding from the S elevation in particular the sacristy. The graveyard is little used and much neglected, overgrown and very difficult to negotiate the interior as there is only a single overgrown perimeter path. There are only twelve tombs and sixty modern formal grave settings associated with headstones in the cemetery. Thirty three modern headstones have no formal grave plot. Dispersed around the old medieval abbey and graveyard are many loose medieval architectural fragments [KE047-047003/005-] some of which were reused as gravemarkers while others lie loose on the ground.
Killagha Graveyard is partially bounded by a random rubble wall of local sandstone bedded in mortar and capped with ‘soldiers’. The E & S boundary walls are generally in good order however ivy has established itself and needs to be cut away. The roadside or W boundary wall is generally free of vegetation and in good order The abbey structure more or less forms the entire N boundary. There is one gated entrance and a swing-stile into Killagha graveyard. A pair of wrought iron gates are set between two tall square ashlar limestone piers
with gabled capping. There were ninety-three (93) named headstones recorded at Killagha graveyard of which
thirty-three (33) have no formal grave settings. There were eighty-three (83) unhewn, unnamed gravemarkers in total recorded in the course of this survey. All of the unnamed headstones are simple grave markers of unhewn local sandstone without name, inscription or wider grave plot setting. Many are disposed around the graveyard in coherent strings or rows including one row in the chancel of the abbey. There is just one horizontal named graveslab in Killagha. The Lunny slab is situated near the E limits of the graveyard near HS 79. It is partially covered in vegetation and is shattered into several pieces. Twenty-nine (29) architectural fragments (AFs) were recorded in Killagha graveyard in the course of this survey. The majority (16) are re-used within
the fabric of the medieval abbey while another is re-used as a gravemarker beneath the piscina. The remainder are disposed around the exterior S and SE limits of the abbey in the graveyard. A further 6 AFs as well as twelve masons marks were noted by the writer in September 2006 and June 2010. However the full number of the AFs were not located in the course of this study due to the extent of the vegetation cover. One of the missing fragments is a 13th century bowtell-moulded jamb of sandstone from a door or window lying loose
outside the S elevation of the abbey while another large section (possibly of two or three fragments) formed a coherent curving section of a window. Another is a short limestone window fragment. The fourth missing fragment is a sandstone corbel with a wall plate beam rebate slot lying loose at the NE limits of the graveyard. The fifth is a flat squarish slab with a deep water groove along one edge'.

See attached plan and photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne

Date of upload: 23 May 2022

References

Dunne, L. 2012 Archaeological Survey, Killagha Abbey and Graveyard, Milltown, Co. Kerry. Unpublished report for The Heritage Office, Kerry County Council (SMR file).