Graveyard in Parkavonear

In pasture, on a S-facing slope. An irregular-shaped graveyard enclosed by a stone wall (H 1.5m) with entrances in the E end of the N wall and at the SW corner. The interior is uneven and overgrown. The graveyard is currently in use; recent burials are concentrated in the extension immediately E of the graveyard. The ruins of a church (KE066-016001-) are in the N sector. Uninscribed grave-markers, interspersed with more numerous 18th and 19th-century headstones, are concentrated in the W, SW and N sectors. Within the church, headstones and large tombs date mainly to the 19th century. The oldest inscribed headstone, dating to 1706, is situated in the nave of the church. A large tomb, with a pointed tower inscribed on its upper surface, is located to the SE of the chancel externally. A bullaun stone (KE066-016003-) is located outside the NW corner of the nave. A cross-slab (KE066-016004-) is situated to the NW of the nave, externally. The original location of an ogham stone (KE066-016005-) was to the SW of the church. A round tower (KE066-016006-) is situated in the NW sector. A castle (KE066-017001-) is to the SW of the graveyard. In 2009 a graveyard survey carried out by Stephen Hourihan and Heidi Jacobsen of Headland Archaeology Ltd. on behalf of Kerry County Council, recorded the following details about the graveyard: ‘The boundary walls surrounding the graveyard are of mortared rubble stone with solider rubble stone coping. The main pedestrian entrance to the graveyard is located to the north of the graveyard and consists of one wrought-iron gate between square profile tooled limestone gate piers with stepped chamfered caps. A wrought-iron kissing gate is also located here, situated between one of the gate piers and the rubble stone wall. The entrance gate is in a good state of repair. A second pedestrian entrance is located in the northeast. This consists of a wrought-iron gate between tooled piers. Two pedestrian entrances also exist between the old and the new graveyard. The southernmost of these consists of a wide opening in the rubble stone wall. It appears possible that the opening has been added some time after the original construction of the wall, or at least that it has been remodelled by the addition of cement as a means of supporting the entrance. Further north is a second entrance between the old and new graveyard which is very similar in appearance. The main pathways of Aghadoe churchyard are located in the eastern part. These are gravelled paths which run north/south and east/west, creating a square pattern of rows of graves which are easily and safely accessible without damaging the graves or their integrity. Two paths north of the church are slightly less symmetrical. One appears to have been instated after the original location of several graveplots here and serves as a means of traversing the northernmost part of the graveyard near the main entrance. The second northern path runs in an east/west direction past the church ruin. Like the paths described above these comprise of gravel and are well-kept. There are 34 tombs located within the graveyard. Most of these are concentrated near the church with a few outliers to the south. A total of 694 inscribed headstones belonging to 606 different graves were surveyed. These greatly in style and preservation. The eastern part of the graveyard, consists of neatly planned and well-kept rows of plots with headstones dating mainly to the 20th century. The central part of the graveyard is less strictly planned but well-kept. Many graves date to the 19th century but there are also five graves that date to the 18th century, the oldest headstone, grave no. 720, dates to 1706 and is located in the western part of the church ruin. There are 116 unnamed gravemarkers within Ardcrone graveyard. These are scattered throughout, but are mainly located in the western half of the graveyard. These gravemarkers consists mainly of simple stone markers such as those of grave no's 374 and 396' (Jacobsen 2009, 7-9). See attached plan of graveyard courtesy of Heidi Jacobsen 2009. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 18 November 2022