Altar

The partial remains of the earth and stone bank of an enclosure (approx. dims. 100m N-S; 90m E-W) surviving from W through N to E where it acts as a field boundary enclosing the base of a natural hillock. The enclosure was depicted on the 1843 ed. OS 6-inch map. On top of the hillock are the remains of a circular grove of hawthorn bushes with a bullaun stone (TN007-034003) protruding from the surface of the hill. There are a lot of other stones protruding from the surface inside the circular grove of trees which is indicative of a children's burial ground (TN007-034002). According to Cooke (1852-3, 54) a lot of human bones were found within this destroyed enclosure and there was a practice of interring unbaptised children here. He also describes finding a small bronze pin with a pendent ornament in the shape of a crescent or new moon. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008