Children's burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

On flat pasture, 40m S of Camoge River, which forms townland boundary between Monaster North and South. The ruins of the 12th century Cistercian abbey of Monasteranenagh (LI033-050004-) lies 100m to SE. A building annotated ‘Church (in ruins)’ (LI031-050001-) on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map that may have been the original guesthouse for the abbey. The ruins of this building forms part of the National Monument No. 171, and is now enclosed by a post-1700 stone wall which marks the area annotated ‘Burial Ground’ on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map and as ‘Infants’ Burial Ground’ on the OSi 25-inch map. This area (int. dims. c. 25m E-W x 6m N-S) was used a burial place for stillborn children and has also been used as a graveyard for local people. Monument visible on Google Earth orthophotos as a rectangular-shaped area enclosed by a stone wall with possible abbey guesthouse (Church) at E end. Burial ground entered over a stone stile visible in centre of S wall of graveyard. Low orthostats visible inside the building and graveyard may be the remains of uninscribed headstones. Inscribed headstones of 19th/20th century date are visible in centre and at W end of graveyard.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of Upload: 22 March 2021