Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Killemlagh Church / Cill Imleach: Located in a graveyard (KE096-009003-) directly above Keel Strand, in a valley known locally as The Glen. It overlooks St Finan's Bay and the Skelligs to W. It is traditionally associated with St Finan, as is a holy well located a short distance to W (KE096-007-----). This association, along with the presence of a possible ogham stone in the Medieval church's W gable, suggests that the site may occupy the location of an earlier ecclesiastical foundation. Rounds were formerly made here by people 'afflicted with diseases of a scrofulous nature' (Lynch 1902a, 61).

The church of 'Killymlach' was noted in the Papal Taxation List (1302-06) for the Diocese of Ardfert (Cal Docs Ire, V, 298). The 'vicaradge of KilmcEllockochistra' was noted in the Royal Visitation of 1615, where its church was recorded as being 'in good condition'. It was included in a list of parochial churches in 1622 (TCD MS 2158, 94), and was recorded as being in ruins by the middle of the eighteenth century (Smith 1756, 104). A nineteenth-century Catholic chapel, now in ruins, was built against the N wall of the Medieval church.

Extensive burials occupy the interior of the church, and a number of tombs abut its S wall externally.

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1096. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 31 July 2013