What is recorded here

The second church vanished from Kilkenny, leaving behind a wet, rush-choked grave field where unbaptised children still sleep without markers. It is a small, breathless place on a hill slope, remembered only through the absence of stone and the continuity of sorrow.

On a gentle SW-facing slope, just off the crest of a flat-topped hill, in very wet, waterlogged, rush infested field. There is a low hill immediately to the SE. There are very good views in all directions except upslope to the N. According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 161-2), in this townland, ‘The church [KK005-054001-] stood beside Kiltown road, in a field called the “Grave field.” It “was the second church named in Rome.” (Tradition). No trace whatever of it remains, but the site is marked by a graveyard 16 yards long and 10 wide, still used as a burial place for unbaptized children. There are no inscribed head-stones’. The OS Letters (1839) (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 45-6 (16)) describes this as, 'a small burial ground used only for still-born children'. There is no visible trace of the church or graveyard at ground level. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 30 April 2018

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.