What is recorded here

Ardkearagh holds a children's burial ground where unbaptised babies rested until the 1940s. The local name ceallúnach still identifies the spot, preserving a brutal fact about faith and childhood loss. Adults may have believed baptism decided whether a child belonged to heaven or limbo, yet they still dug holes and buried small bodies separately. That contradiction makes the place both tragic and human: fear did not stop love, it only changed where love could reach.

The site is locally referred to as a ceallúnach (KE098-088----), and was used for burying unbaptised children up to the 1940s (local information). The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 925. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.