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Burial Ground

Burial ground

What is recorded here

Tubber Mochuilla burying ground on a steep Clare slope has held adults and children since at least 1839, when Curry named it. Cattle still tear through briars and clay above the dead, while mature oaks stand guard around a hidden holy well. The ground keeps its own time, undisturbed except for hooves and shadow.
On a very steep NW-facing slope, in a plot of mature oak woodland. Depicted on all OS historic mapping and named ‘Burial Ground’. In 1839, Curry refers to this as ‘Tubber Mochuilla burying ground’ (OSL, vol. 2, 282). A roughly rectangular area (c. 45m NW-SE; c. 40m NE-SW) defined by a low earthen field bank on the upper slope to SE and SW and by a deep land drain to NW and NE. The interior has a very steep NW-facing slope for the most, which levels out to a generally flat area along the NW margin. The steeply sloping area of the burial ground is obscured by dense briars which are broken up by occasional cattle paths. It is heavily poached by cattle to expose an orange-brown clay subsoil. A number of mature trees are defining the margins of this burial ground and some large, mature oaks are located within. Some loose stones are evident strewn across the level margin to NW, although these form no coherent pattern. No potential gravemarkers were noted although dense briars may obscure these. According to local information, adults are laid to rest here as well as children. Rough pasture encloses the burial ground, except to the immediate N, where there is coniferous forestry. A holy well (CL035-072002-) is located off-centre to S. The following images have been uploaded: CL035-072001-_01.jpg From SE. General view of SE side (exterior) of burial ground. CL035-072001-_02.jpg From W. General view of interior. CL035-072001-_03.jpg From SE. General view across level area at NW interior of burial ground. Compiled by: Mary Tunney, Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 11 April 2018
Early Christian burial ground, likely 6th–8th century. Its identification with "Tubber Mochuilla" suggests a possible association with a monastic or ecclesiastical site linked to Saint Mochuilla.

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What survives
Recorded monument

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