What is recorded here

Leacht in Cill Ón Chatha is a small burial site in County Kerry, Ireland, locally known as a ceallúnach. Its overgrown interior holds a dense scatter of stone and quartz, with uninscribed upright slabs and small rounded boulders marking graves. The raised northern sector contains a slab-lined rectangular platform of stone and quartz, measuring 3.9m east-west by 3m north-south, rising 0.7m above external ground level at the south. A double row of slabs retains its south side, and a portion of a coursed step remains preserved.

Not marked on the OS maps, this small site (KE097-014001-) is locally known as a ceallúnach (KE097-014003-). The overgrown interior of the enclosure is occupied by a dense scatter of stone and quartz. Some uninscribed upright slabs are present, but most of the grave-markers are small, rounded boulders. The raised N sector of the interior has a slab-lined rectangular platform of stone, including much quartz, which measures 3.9m E-W x 3m N-S and rises .7m above external ground level at S. This leacht-like feature (KE097-014002-) is retained on its S side by a double row of slabs, and a portion of a coursed step is preserved. 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. 961. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 July 2013

Linked to St. Catha (Cill Ón Chatha meaning "church of Catha"), the site is traditionally associated with healing rituals and the use of holy water for curing ailments. Local folklore suggests that quartz found at the site was used in protective charms or for divinatory purposes.

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