Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Church ruins shown in centre of graveyard on 1841 ed. OS 6-inch map but not indicated on revised editions of the OS maps. Kinard church (KE053-053001-)/Teampall Chinn Aird: The parish church of Kinard is first mentioned in the Papal Taxation List (1302-7) for the Diocese of Ardfert (Cal Docs Ire, V, 297), but the presence of 2 ogham stones and a bullaun stone at the site indicate that it probably occupies the site of an earlier foundation. The church appears to have been in disrepair in 1458 (Cal Pap Reg, 11, 356) but was probably refurbished subsequently. In the 16th century, the right 'of the presentation to the rectorship of the parish church of Kynarde' rested with the Earl of Desmond (Desmond Inquisition). In 1841, only a small section of the E gable was extant (OSL) and this had fallen by 1848 (Windele, 459-62). The head of an ogee window, visible in the rubble at that time, further indicates that the church may have been rebuilt or repaired in the 15th/16th century. There are no visible remains of the church today. It was situated in a rectangular graveyard (KE053-053004-) in the townland of Kinard East, also known as Cinn Aird an Teampaill. The surrounding district is also known locally as Tearmann Fhíonáin, from the patron saint of the Parish on whose feast-day a pattern was formerly held at the site (OSL; An Seabhac 1939, 150).

In 2011 a graveyard survey carried out by Ann Frykler and Robert Hanbidge of Headland Archaeology Ltd. recorded the following details: ‘Kinard Graveyard is located within the townland of Kinard East (ED Kinard), Co. Kerry, approximately 5.5 km southeast Dingle on the Dingle Peninsula. The graveyard is located on the northern side of a low mountain and has extensive view to the mountains that form the Dingle Peninsula to the north including the peaks of Mt. Brandon, Slievanea and Cnoc Mhaoilionain. The graveyard is located on a relatively level area at the base of slope that rises sharply to the south. The graveyard is recorded in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) as KE053‐053004, and contains the site of a church (no longer visible) listed as KE053‐053001Within the graveyard, two ogham stones are also recorded; KE053‐053002 and KE053‐053005. A bullaun stone KE053‐053003 is recorded as been located within the graveyard, but it is presently located outside the graveyard to the north' (Hanbidge 2011, 1-6).

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage (compiler) 'Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey.' Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne (1986), no. 863. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Robert Hanbidge

Date of revised upload: 1 July 2022

References

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

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Cal. papal letters - Calendar of entries in the papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: papal letters, 1198-1484 [etc.] (London, 1893-)

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

Hanbidge, R. 2011 Archaeological Survey of Kinard Burial Ground, Lispole, Dingle, County Kerry. Unpublished report by Headland Archaeology Ltd. for Kerry County Council.

Seabhac, An. 1939 Triocha-Céad Chorca Dhuibhne. Dublin.