What is recorded here
Children's burial ground in Glenderry stands beside St Macadaw's holy well, a quiet distinction from ordinary graveyards because infants died before baptism and entered a separate Christian threshold. The Corridon family also claimed Keelmacada, where a returning tomb stone and dying light belonged to their bloodline. Together the places suggest a region that did not erase childhood loss but gave it address, witness and form.
This record was formerly classed as 'Ecclesiastical Remains', the classification has been changed to Children's Burial Ground. Folklore collected from Glenderry School recorded that; 'There is a church [KE013-023001-] at Keel and no one only the Corridon family and the young "unbaptised" babies are buried there also' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417C, Pages 02_030-31; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5236104/5232597/5236972?ChapterID=5236104).
Another story collected from Glenderry School recorded that; 'There is a graveyard in Kerryhead where the Corridon families are buried. It is said when any of the Corridon is going to die a light is seen in the graveyard. There is a stone in the shape of a tomb there and a bishop, he is buried under it. There is another stone on top of it and it is said that if it is carried away it will come back again before morning. There is another graveyard at the north side, near the holy well, where babies who are not baptised are buried' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417C, Page 03_039;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5236104/5232656).
Folklore collected from Booleenshare School recorded that; 'In the Parish of Ballyheigue there are three graveyards. The principal one is called "Ballyheigue" where the people of the Parish and some people outside the Parish are buried. The other graveyard is in Keelmacada which is confined to the Corridon family and children who die shortly after being born. The burial place is in Glendahalan where there are no adults buried but infants who die immediately after birth' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417, Page 448; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4678380/4673857/4682244?ChapterID=4678380).
Folklore collected from Booleenshare School recorded that the children's buial ground was located to the north of St Macadaw's holy well; 'There is another graveyard at the North side, near the holy well [KE013-026----], where babies who are not baptised are buried' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417, Page 517;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4678380/4673926/4682397?ChapterID=4678380).
Revised by: Caimin O’Brien
Date of revised upload: 19 May 2022
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
St Macadaws Church (in ruins)Church · 2 yd
St Macadaws WellHoly well · 358 yd
Enclosure in GlenderryEnclosure · 678 yd
Triskmore MountainMountain / peak · 1755 yd
Triskbeg MountainMountain / peak · 1.0 mi
Our Lady's Holy WellSpring · 3.7 mi
Site of Ballingarry CastleCastle, unclassified · 4.6 mi
Banna StrandBeach / strand · 5.4 mi