Cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Dunquin Church/An Teampall: There was a parish church here by the end of the 13th century (Cal Docs Ire, V, 297), but in 1615 the vicarage of Dunquin was 'waste voyde' (Royal Visitation), and the church was in ruins by 1756 (Smith, 69). The present remains, situated in the graveyard (KE052-014002-) at Dunquin, are those of a rubble-built, rectangular church. Apart from the church, the only features of interest in the graveyard are 2 grave-markers in the form of rough stone crosses (KE052-014003/004-).

In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details about a stone cross No. 184: 'Dunquin Church [KE052-014001-] and Graveyard [KE052-014002-] is situated on the westernmost tip of the Dingle Peninsula, indeed the most western point of the landmass of Europe and consequently the most western Christian church and graveyard in Europe. It is 8.5km west from the village of Ventry and 15.25km from Dingle. There were four cross slabs recorded in Dunquin in the course of this survey, two of which were recorded in the Dingle Archaeological Survey as ‘...2 grave-markers in the form of rough stone crosses’ (Cuppage 1984, 366). The two stones correspond with crosses 180 and 184 in this survey' (Dunne 2010, 12).

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 982. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

See attached plan and photograph courtesy of Laurence Dunne.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of revised upload: 30 June 2022

References

Dunne, L. 2010 Archaeological Survey, Dunquin Graveyard, Dingle, Co. Kerry. Unpublished report for The Heritage Office, Kerry County Council (SMR file).

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