Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Shrine
Ballinlena, County Mayo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballinlena
- County
- Mayo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 54.27739, -9.21015
- SMR number
- MA008-006002-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Located in the N half of a graveyard (MA008-0060007-), 15m N of a church (MA008-006001-).
This monument is traditionally known as the grave of St. Cummin, who is said to have founded a monastery here in the 7th century. It consists of a low, sod-covered stony mound (3.7m N–S; 2.5m E–W; H 0.55m at W). An upright, edge-set slab (L 1.12m N–S; H 0.4m; T 0.05m) borders the E side of the mound, and in line this, is a smaller upright slab, now leaning to E, which is located just beyond the S end of the mound. The W side of the mound is bordered by a N–S row of seven upright slabs, with long axes aligned to the axis of the mound. Amongst the seven uprights there are two tall pillar-like slabs and a cross-slab (MA008-006003-). One of the pillar-like slabs (H 1.85m; L 0.3m N–S; T 0.09m) marks the N end of the row, and is in line with the N end of the mound/grave. The cross-slab and two other low, close-set uprights intervene between this pillar and the second pillar (H 1.7m; L 0.2m N–S; T 0.14m) which is located toward the S end of the row, just beyond the S end of the mound. The row ends with two further low, upright slabs, which are located immediately S of the S pillar slab.
The two pillar stones are rectangular in cross-section with flat tops, and are well matched in size and shape. The low uprights are more variable in form, falling within the following size range: H 0.3-0.7m; W 0.15-0.3m.
According to local tradition, soil taken from the vicinity of the grave confers a blessing on whoever holds it. The mound is largely obscured by grass and clumps of brambles.
Attached image:
MA008-006002-_01.JPG Viewed from W
Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 15 July 2019
Nearby in the register
- Cross-slabunder 1 mi
- Sundialunder 1 mi
- Inscribed stoneunder 1 mi
- Cross-slabunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.