What is recorded here

Children died young on Scariff Island and went into the earth beside the old oratory, their names lost but their breath still warming the stone. The oval enclosure holds more than forgotten bone; it keeps the urgency of lives cut short, reminding visitors that even sacred ground must make room for innocence. Francis O'Sullivan was executed there in 1653 and buried nearby, yet the children's graves remain the heart of the place because they ask no permission to be remembered.

Scariff Island is located 5 km SW of Hog's Head, on the N side of the mouth of Kenmare Bay. The ecclesiastical site (KE105A001001-) on it is reached by a path that leads uphill from the landing place at Coosaneeve/Cuas na Naomh, on the island's NE shore. It consists of the remains of a terraced oval enclosure, within which is the site of an oratory and a burial ground, as well as a nineteenth century house. Outside the enclosure at SW is a Man-made underground passage. Henry noted a ceallúnach (KE105A-001003-) 'without any feature of interest' c. 90m NE of the oratory (1957, 146). No surface trace of this is now apparent. It may be the disused burial place, noted in the OSNB (Kilcrohane, 29), where Francis O'Sullivan, Provincial of the Irish Franciscan Order, was buried following his execution on Scariff Island in 1653 (Browne 1898, 321). 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. 967. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

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