What is recorded here

Church Island in Iveragh, County Kerry, held a circular wooden hut and a rectangular building beside a group of burials during its earliest occupation. People continued laying the dead to rest there even after abandoning the island itself. The sea preserved what forgetting usually claims.

National Monument No. 59. Evidence for the earliest period of occupation on the island comprised a circular wooden hut and a rectangular wooden building. The latter feature was associated with a group of burials. The island continued to be used as a burial place after its final desertion. 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. 927. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013

A Neolithic burial site associated with early wooden structures; significant for evidence of early occupation and funerary practices.

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