What is recorded here

Half a mile from the castle, a ruined church and its rough standing stones still hold the island's dead. The graveyard has never been tilled and may never be, a promise the land keeps without asking permission. Even unbaptised children found their way into its hollows until recently, suggesting the boundary between the living and the lost remained thin long after the walls fell.

Fenit church and burial ground was described in 1841 as follows; 'There was an old church [KE028-023001-] on the Island of Fenit, a short distance to the South West of the castle [KE028-001----]. It is destroyed to the foundation, and there is no burial at it' (OSL). Folklore collected from Chapeltown (Baile na hEaglaise) School recorded the following tradition; 'This is the remains of an ancient church [KE028-023001-]. It is situated about 200 yds inland and south-west of the Castle [KE028-001----] in Fenit Island. It is marked on the Ordnance Survey Map. Around the ruin are numbers of rough stones standing on end, most likely a burial ground. Until quite lately they buried unbaptised children in the graveyard. Hollows in the ground nearby would indicate there were other buildings also close to the church proper. The 1/4 acre in which the ruin and graveyard are were never tilled and never will be (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0438, Page 270-1; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706321/4702383) '. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 April 2022

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.