Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

On a flat valley floor, in pasture, with a stream c. 40m to the W. There are good views across the valley in all directions. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 319) the enclosure (KK009-012003-) in this field is, 'called "the Killeen" (Cillín, i.e. the little church), which takes its name from a very ancient church that formerly stood there. The church-site is a small circular area, resembling a rath, 45 paces across and surrounded by a rampart about 2 ft. [0.6m] high all round. This enclosure, known as "churchyard," was used for the interment of adults till 1770 or thereabouts. At present there are no head-stones nor appearances of graves. The church, which stood within the enclosed area, to the south, has been destroyed, but some loose stones mark its site; it appears to have been a quadrangle, about 28 ft. [c. 8.5m] long, externally, and 19½ ft. [c. 6m] wide. An aged ash, 15 ft. [c. 4.5m] in circumference at the base, marks the position of the west gable, and keeps guard over this well-nigh forgotten city of the dead. The only tradition current about the Killeen is, that the church that stood here was parochial, and that it was given up many centuries ago, and a new church, then erected in Aharney, was made the parish church in its stead'. The enclosure (diam. c. 30m) is defined by a bank (Wth c. 2m; int. H 0.5m; ext. H 0.6-0.7m). A tree-covered mound of stone rubble in the SW quadrant, probably augmented by field clearance, possibly marks the location of the church (KK009-012001-) within the enclosure. There is no visible evidence at ground level of the use of the enclosure as a graveyard (KK009-012002-).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 29 January 2018

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.