What is recorded here

Altar is an ecclesiastical enclosure in Cloghleigh (Aglishcloghane parish), Kylebeg (Aglishcloghane parish), County Tipperary, Ireland. The earth and stone bank still marks the western, northern and eastern edges of a 100 metre by 90 metre area around a natural hillock. Cooke recorded that human bones and a small crescent shaped bronze pin were found there, and that unbaptised children were buried in the enclosure before it was destroyed.

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

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