What is recorded here

Clear water and clean air could be drawn from the whole valley because the church and well belonged to St Finan. People travelled from far away when their skin or breath failed ordinary care. The cross slab marks a buried life given up to that same belief. Finans name still floats above Keel Strand like a promise made before writing was invented.

Killemlagh Church / Cill Imleach: Located in a graveyard (KE096-009003-) directly above Keel Strand, in a valley known locally as The Glen. It overlooks St Finan's Bay and the Skelligs to W. It is traditionally associated with St Finan, as is a holy well located a short distance to W (KE096-007-----). This association, along with the presence of a possible ogham stone in the Medieval church's W gable, suggests that the site may occupy the location of an earlier ecclesiastical foundation. Rounds were formerly made here by people 'afflicted with diseases of a scrofulous nature' (Lynch 1902a, 61). Cross-Inscribed Slab (KE096-009002-): This rectangular slab serves as the cover for a tomb located close to the W gable of the Medieval church. It measures 1.71m x .47m x .06m, and bears a plain linear cross at its S end. 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. 1096. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013

Probably dates to the early Christian period (5th–9th century). The cross-slab may have served as a high cross or memorial within a monastic or ecclesiastical setting, reflecting Christian worship or commemorative practice in the region.

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