Cross-slab in Behaghane

Kilcrohane Church/Cill Chrócháin, also known as Coad Church and traditionally dedicated to St Cróchán, the patron of the parish, is located close to the N boundary of a rectangular graveyard (KE106-032002-) on the lower SE slopes of Coad mountain. The site overlooks Cove Harbour and Kenmare Bay to S. In the graveyard, 6m S of the SE angle of the church, is an upright cross-inscribed slab. It measures 0.91m high and 0.3m x 0.07m at base. Its smooth W face bears a broadly grooved, single-line, Latin cross. In 2009 a graveyard survey carried out by Robert Hanbidge and Ann Frykler of Headland Archaeology Ltd. recorded the following details: 'There is one cross slab present at Behaghane graveyard grv no. 575; this has previously been recorded as RMP KE106-032005. It is a simple erect stone slab with a faint carved cross, heavily eroded and also used as a scratching post by grazing sheep within the graveyard'. See attached photograph of Toberavilla and Turas Chrócháin, Co. Kerry, taken 1946 by Caoimhín Ó Danachair courtesy of and © National Folklore Collection, UCD. The Photographic Collection, F025.18.00004 accessible online at https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbeg/24631. 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. 1087. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 12 April 2022