Rhellick

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small circular enclosure full of small wind blown trees in a secluded and beautiful spot in a dip of the fields near the Castle River,at this stage called Drumgavenny Burn. Approximate external diameter: 8 metres.

The river curves around the site ten metres to the south and west and the trees of the graveyard extend along an adjoining field boundary towards the river.

The boundary of the structure is defined by a low rubble wall which is in places two metres wide but which appears to have been removed at the lower end nearer the river for use in the boundary wall.

Inside the ground is uneven and covered in grass beneath the trees. There are no inscribed memorials. At roughly the centre point is a dense piece of scrub under which can be seen a hole capped by a stone to presumably a grave underneath.

Historical information

‘The townland of Kilhoyle, or properly Kill Chomhghaill, derives its name from another ancient church, originally, as it is probable, parochial, and founded by the great St Comgall. Of this church there are now no remains, but the graveyard still exists and is occasionally used’. Ordnance Survey Memoirs 1835-7 p. 19’ ‘There stands at present in the townland of Kilhoyle and in the holding of Edward Kelly an enclosed tract of ground locally called the Rhellick, which signifies a “burial ground”. This enclosure stands from 1 to 2 feet higher than the level of the field on which it stands. The ancient wall on the north east side is 8 feet broad, from 4 to 5 feet high and grown over with hazel, black and white thorns. The wall is built with large and small stones. The south wall is at present demolished. The surface of the above ground is studded with stones of various sizes. Many of these stones so arranged as to form graves of modern shape…

Traditions says that the above ground was the site on which the ancient church of Balteagh was first to be erected, and that all the necessary preparations were made on those premises for erection. Masons were several days building the wall but to their surprise and annoyance every part of the work they did during the day was found demolished on the following morning… mechanics and parishioners met at the site and while in consultation together 2 ravens hovered over the assembled multitude for some minutes after which the ravens lit on the demolished ruins and took from there a plumb line.

This extraordinary circumstance astonished the beholders, who eagerly watched their course and at once concluded that the ravens would drop the line on a fitter site for the new erection than that selected by themselves.” Ordnance Survey Memoirs p.33. The line was dropped on the site of Balteagh Old Church (HB02/08/024), and the church was subsequently built on that site. Balteagh means: “The town of the two ravens”. The memoirs also refer to infant burials in one part of the graveyard in 1831.This would have applied to children who died before baptism. Strangers who died whilst in the locality might also have been buried here, i e it would not have been known whether their burial could be permitted in consecrated ground. There is no evidence of usage in modern times.

OSM vol 11 p19&33
0SS 1831
SMR LDY 17/16

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A beautiful and serene place which is of great historical social and archaeological interest. Apart from the purity o;f the plan and its implementation in a fine site there is little of architectural note however and the graveyard does not warrant including as a listed structure.