Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 261), 'About 50 yards [c. 46m] north of Ballylarking church [KK013-018001-], in a field called "the eleven acres," there is a green moat [KK013-016----]…. In the same field, 350 yards [320m] more the north, there is a venerable old ash tree called "the Bishop's Tree." Near its base, surrounded by a tract of marsh there is a small, slightly raised, circular area, an English perch [5m²] in extent, in which there are from twenty to thirty rude, uninscribed head stones, such as are usually met with in graveyards exclusively used for the interment of unbaptized children. The tradition is that, in Cromwell's time, seven Bishops, coming along the old road from Kilrush castle to Ballylarkin castle, were murdered at the "Bishop's Tree," and were buried in the little graveyard at its foot. Probably for Cromwell's time tradition should have here substituted that of the Danes. No one has been buried in the little graveyard within living memory. The church [KK013-088003-] that stood here, and of which no trace remains, was, there can be little doubt, the first church ever built in Ballylarkin'. The precise location of this burial ground is unknown within the townland.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 30 March 2020