Children's burial ground in Clonlonan

Situated in pasture, on a slight S-facing slope, adjacent to a field fence running NNW-SSE. Bullaun stone (WM036-019----) lies c. 22m to S. Not depicted on OS maps. According to local information, this field contained a children's burial ground. It was situated in a hollow (now almost filled up) and was used in years gone by for [burying] unbaptised infants (ibid). There is a rock-filled depression to N of the bullaun stone which may represent the hollow described. Possible children's burial ground visible today as a dark green oval-shaped cropmark (dims. 53m NNW-SSE; 43m WSW-ENE) on Digital Globe aerial photography. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 28 November 2019

Children's burial ground in Clonlonan is likely a prehistoric inhumation cemetery, possibly dating to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. Its significance lies in the rare local tradition of dedicated children’s burials, offering insight into ancient funerary practices and social attitudes toward childhood.