What is recorded here

Killeen Burial Ground is a children's grave yard in boggy Black Valley pasture, County Kerry, still marked by small mounds and uninscribed stones. It remained in use into the early twentieth century, meaning local families kept bringing their dead children to this hidden corner long after neighbouring churches had changed. The valley may have felt cleaner, quieter and more honest than a crowded town graveyard, a place where small losses could be witnessed without spectacle.

This site is located in boggy pasture at the W end of the Black Valley, a short distance NE of the confluence of the Glashankilleen stream and the Cummeenduff river. It consists of a raised rectangular area, 15m N-S x 19m E-W, bounded on three sides by modern field walls. The interior is occupied by numerous uninscribed grave-markers, among which are ten small mounds, averaging 2.3m x 1.5m, which may cover graves. The site was in use as a children's burial ground up to the early twentieth century (local information). 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. 994. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

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