Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

Calluragh Burial Ground: This site is located in poor land on the W bank of the Cummeragh river, a short distance above its entry into Lough Currane. It consists of a heavily overgrown enclosure containing a cross-inscribed ogham stone and numerous uninscribed grave-markers. Of approximately circular plan, the enclosed area is defined by a low and much denuded stony bank which survives to a maximum height of .7m and averages less than 2.5m wide. The river skirts the site from NE to E, where there is no trace of the bank. Internally the enclosure measures 29m N-S x 25m E-W. The interior of the site is littered with small boulders and upright grave-markers, which presumably relate to its period of use as a ceallúnach. Brash recorded that the site was 'devoted to the burial of unbaptized and baptized children to the ages of six or eight months. No grown-up children or adults are ever interred here' (1879, 215).
Cross-Inscribed Ogham-Stone (KE098-021002-): This stands close to the NE limits of the enclosure. It is 1.81m high, measures .41m x .12m at base and is of slightly irregular elevation. The inscription, which occurs on the NW angle, was read by Macalister (1945, 227) as:
TIDONN(A] MAQ.DOMNGINN
The initial two letters are buried, but Macalister's doubtful A is clear. The second I is not now discernible, though there is sufficient space for it. On the W face of the stone is a large outline cross potent. A vertical groove occurs at the point where the right arm meets the shaft and a dot occurs towards the centre of the cross.

The above description is derived from O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. (compilers) 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University press. (1996), no. 944. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 12 June 2013