Grave Yd.

Situated on natural hillock in undulating grassland with good views especially to W where it overlooks Killua Castle and St Lucy's Well (WM009-008----) 616m and 471m to the NW respectively. Large irregular-shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 87m NE-SW; 60m NW-SE) enclosed by a bank and waterlogged fosse or drain, except at S where the site is enclosed by a bank is faced with a drystone stone wall with a gateway at the SW corner. The interior contains the grass-covered wall footings of a church (WM009-043---) in the highest part of the graveyard to the W of a 19th century folly belonging to Killua Castle. The graveyard contains memorials dating from the post-1700 onwards. An octagonal shaped font (WM009-043003-) was removed from the graveyard some time after 1940 and taken to Ballinlough Castle where it was reused as a garden feature (WM009-044----). In 1940 Oliver Davies noted that the present graveyard may enclose an earlier burial ground or churchyard when he stated that the oldest and highest part of the graveyard is apparently circular (ITA Survey). This circular form may preserved the line of an ecclesiastical enclosure (WM009-043002-) of Early Christian date. Traces of an enclosing fosse and external bank best visible from W to N may be remains of this earlier enclosure. Compiled by: Frank Coyne and Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 27 April 2017