Graveyard in Kells, County Clare

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What is recorded here

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In low-lying level ground adjacent to the now-derelict ‘Kells Cottage’, immediately E of a working farmyard, on a local road between Corofin and Tubber. Not marked on the first (1842) or Cassini (1916) editions of the OS 6-inch map. A ‘churchyard’ in this townland is alluded to by Aenghus O’Daly c.1617 (Westropp 1906-7, 139). O’Donovan noted that ‘there was formerly a Church’ at the site, ‘but its site is now scarcely traceable. It is probably the Ceandinis which Colgan places in Dalcassia’ (Comber 1997, 42). MacNamara (1900, 31) reported the presence of a church (CL017-091001-) and graveyard (CL017-091002-) in the kitchen garden of ‘Kells Cottage’: ‘the owner, Mr. Conor O’Bryen, tells me that adult human bones have often been dug up, and many headstones, rough and without inscription, have been found there under the surface of the soil. He also states that he was told by a very old resident … that there was a church in this particular ground, and that it was called “St. Catherine’s”’. No visible surface trace of the church survives. A distinct curve in the road (E-S-SW) and in the field boundary to NW of the site may indicate the line of a possible early ecclesiastical enclosure.

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record CL017-091002

Places near here

Picture notes

Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
Roger Diel, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
Roger Diel, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Bob Jones, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Adrian King, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in KellsFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 245 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Kells is sitting on a ridge, judging everyone who dares approach its muddy doorstep. It thinks the modern houses nearby are tacky and lacks proper stone walls for dignity. Take a mate and argue about what it was for.

Man-made underground passage in KellsMan-made underground passage · 533 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Man-made underground passage in Kells is next to a holy bush and a Celtic cross, so it’s got the spiritual package deal covered. The prophecy about it never came true because nobody checked. Bring a flask of something warm and a story to swap.

SkaghabanooRitual site, holy tree/bush · 581 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Skaghabanoo is a holy bush near a rath, so it’s basically the bouncer for the ancient fort’s VIP entrance. It was noted by Westropp back in 1900, which means it’s been hanging out there longer than your great-grandfather has existed. Best seen with a hangover and a sausage roll in hand.

IndicatedEnclosure · 669 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Enclosure in Caherlough rounds out our list with a simple name and location, leaving plenty of room for your own imagination.

Causeway in Kells,rinneen (inchiquin By.)Causeway · 772 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Causeway in Kells, Rinneen is playing hard to get, hiding its secrets under a blanket of mystery. I bet it’s got more gossip than your aunt at a wedding. Pick a stone, any stone, and invent its biography before the cows notice you.

CahernabillareFairy fort / stone ringfort · 857 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Cahernabillare is a fairy fort or stone ringfort in Caherlough, waiting for us to discover its unique character and history.

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Ballyporty Castle (in ruins) / TowerCastle, tower house · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Ballyporty Castle was renovated by an American architect, which explains why it looks so aggressively tidy for a ruin. Have a sandwich here and call it a heritage lunch, because you're worth it, mate.

The Old WorkhouseWorkhouse · 1.9 mi

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