Killarragon Burial Ground

On a very slight NE-facing slope, in pasture with good views from NW-N. The Dead River lies 22m to S and forms a townland boundary with Lisnacullia and a tributary lies 30m to E, forming a townland boundary with Ayle. Annotated ‘Killarragon Burial Ground’ on the 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map and depicted as a circular-shaped earthwork or platform (diam. 20m). Monument described in 1840 as a 'small burial ground placed in a green valley and on the bank of the Dead River. It is circular, and about 2 chains in diameter, being no higher than the surrounding surface. It is green and is now used rarely as a burial place save for young children. The only appearance of a graveyard that it has at present is a few stones standing perpendicular and forming a circle' (OSNB Castletown Parish, 353). Monument surveyed by the ASI in 1999 and described as raised subcircular-shaped area (26.5m N-S; 14m E-W) defined by a scarp (Wth 1.2m; H 0.3m) which has a kerb best visible from S-W-N-NE and faint elsewhere. Some rectangular-shaped slabs (L 1.25m; Wth 0.5m; T 0.25m) are laid upright on their long edge at NW and N. There are also large and small slabs lying flat on the scarp from NW-N-NE. The interior has a slight NE-facing slope and is dry. A loose arrangement of stones is situated in the centre and a large slab (L 1m; Wth 0.5m; T 0.2m) lies propped on a smaller stone. Monument is visible as a rectangular-shaped earthwork (33m N-S; 30m E-W) on OSi orthophoto taken 2005-2012 and on Google Earth orthoimage taken 11/03/2014. See attached Google Earth orthoimage taken 11/03/2011 Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly Date of upload: 17 October 2020