What is recorded here

Killafeen Grave Yd. is a long narrow burial ground in County Offaly where headstones from the 18th and 19th centuries still mark the dead, yet no church remains visible beside them. A separate stone wall at the western end encloses the private graves of the Featherstone H family, while a water-filled bullaun stone sits hidden under grass on the south side. The place continues to receive the dead, keeping its quiet shape across centuries without explaining why it exists or who first cut it from the field.

Long rectangular shaped graveyard with no evidence of any church, headstones date from 18th to 19th century. No features of archaeological importance inside graveyard. Described in 1977 as 'long narrow burial ground approx. 58m long by East-West by 17m N-S at its widest part. The burial ground is surrounded by a stone wall. There is no visible trace of a church. In the western end of the graveyard is a stone wall enclosing a rectangular area the private burial ground of the 'Featherstone H' family. Inside the wall of the burial ground on the south is what appears to be a bullaun stone (OF008-037002-). This is set in a depression in the ground and is full of water. The sides and top of the stone are now covered with earth and grass making it impossible to examine the stone in detail. This appears to be a 17th or 18th century burial ground. It is still in use' (ASI file 1977). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.