What is recorded here

Lisbaby is a baby fort in County Kerry where unbaptised children were buried long ago. Farm machinery has since disturbed the soil, erasing the graves and leaving only humps, hollows and scattered stones inside the ancient rath. The children vanished from human memory but the land still carries their shape, waiting for someone to remember what was lost.

In the SW quadrant of a rath (KE059-019001-). In the 1940s it was recorded that 'long ago...unbaptised babies' were buried here and 'ever since it is called Lisbaby or the baby fort' (Schools Manuscript, Co. Kerry). There are no visible remains of any graves or grave-markers though some humps and hollows and a random scatter of stones occur in the SW quadrant of the rath. According to Dennehy (1997, 147), burials took place in the centre of the rath but, due to disturbance by farm machinery, 'no evidence to indicate the presence of burials could be found'. Dennehy also noted that the burial ground 'has not been used for at least 100 years' (ibid.). A possible Man-made underground passage (KE059-019002-) is also recorded in the SW quadrant of this rath. Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork. Date of upload: 31 January 2011

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.