Burial

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture on the top, mid, and lower E-facing slope of a ridge on the W edge of the flood plain of the Toormore River which flows N c. 115m to the E. According to Buckley, Glass and Moore (1989, 26-32), in 1989 land reclamation works resulted in the exposure and scattering of bones across what was described as, ‘a slightly raised area roughly 59m in diameter, its perimeter much altered by later field walls and hedges’ (op. cit. 26). Traces of an enclosure (MA070-108001-) appear to survive along the SSE and SW as a curving scarp (H 1.8-2.5m) the curving line of which is followed by a totally overgrown field boundary wall from SW-W-NW. The disturbed bones were retrieved and subsequently identified as human and a follow-up inspection identified an almost intact in situ burial (MA070-108002-).

The retrieved bones were found to comprise the remains of four separate individuals along with a single bone of an infant: ‘Individual A’ aged 50+ years, ‘Individual B’ aged 40-50 years, ‘Individual C’ aged 25-30 years and ‘Individual D’ aged 15-18 years (op. cit.)

The almost intact burial was thought likely be that of a female aged 25-35 with an estimated height of 5’ 9.5” [c. 177cm]. The remains were aligned roughly E-W suggesting Christian burial. In addition to the main skeleton, four bones from a child skeleton were also found (op. cit.).

Date of visit: 16-9-2025

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy and Leo Morahan

References

Buckley, Laureen; Glass, Brendan; Moore, Fionnbarr: Recently discovered burials at Toormore East, Turlough,  Cathair na Mart - Journal of the Westport Historical Society, Vol. 9. No. 1. 26- 32. 1989