Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Church of Ireland church stands in N quadrant of square-shaped graveyard with medieval church ruins (KE048-048----) shown to S of protestant church on the 1841 ed. OSi 6-inch map. The church of Killeentierna (Cillín Tiarna/little church of St Tiernach) stands in the parish of Killeentierna, diocese of Ardfert, barony of Trughanacmy. In 1841 the Ordnance Survey recorded the following details about Killeentierna; 'There are no ecclesiastical antiquities in this parish; the site of the old Killeen is occupied by a modern Protestant church' (O'Donovan 1983, 74).
Church and graveyard surveyed in 2011 and described as follows; 'Located in the central area of the graveyard were the possible converted ruins of Killeentierna church or an associated building. The ruin appears to be in a relatively good and stable condition, and retains much of its basic form. Further architectural fragments located throughout the graveyard may possibly be associated with this church structure. The boundary walls surrounding the graveyard are of roughly dressed mortared rubble stone with recent render coping. A break in the northern boundary allows for a recent Chapel of Ease. For the most part the boundary walls are in good condition, however there are some areas where the occasional piece of masonry is missing. A recent grotto has been constructed in the northwestern corner of the graveyard. A number of architectural fragments are incorporated within and around this grotto. Access to the graveyard is from the car park to the east of the graveyard. There are two entrances to the graveyard; both are located at the northeast corner of the graveyard. The primary entrance which is located in the eastern boundary consists of rendered square‐profile piers with rendered capping supporting a pair of historic double‐leaf wrought‐iron gates. The second method of entry consists of a historic stile which is located immediately to the south of the main entrance and comprises a ‘V’‐shaped gap in the wall with a central flagstone forming a step.
There are seven named tombs represented at Killeentierna Graveyard. The majority of the named tombs are in good condition and are constructed of tooled limestone with many having recent conservation works. All of the named tombs except for Grave No. 61 follow the same design, consisting of a rectangular structure capped with a hipped roof and a tooled limestone capstone. The oldest tomb was Grave No. 14 which interred members of the Harold Family and carried a date of 1826. There are only 3 unnamed tombs within Killeentierna Graveyard. There are 77 named headstones and plots at Killentierna Graveyard. The majority of these are in good
condition and mostly date to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The oldest inscribed headstone bears a date of 1759 and belongs to Grave No. 38 commemorating ‘Jn O’Sullivan’. A total of 26 unnamed plots were recorded during this survey within Killeentierna Graveyard. No unnamed headstones were present within the graveyard. Overall 37 unnamed gravemarkers were recorded within Killeentierna Graveyard. All of these
gravemarkers consist of simple un‐inscribed stones which are placed into the ground. However some of these gravemarkers are reused architectural stones such as Grave No. 149 and Grave No. 150' (Hanbidge 2011, 7-10).

See attached plan of graveyard, courtesy of Robert Hanbidge

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 25 May 2022

References

Hanbidge, R. 2011 Archaeological Survey of Killeentierna Burial Ground, Currow, Killarney County Kerry. Unpublished report by Headland Archaeology Ltd. for Kerry County Council.

O'Donovan, J. 1983 The antiquities of the county of Kerry. Cork. Royal Carbery Books.