Monument in Cuilleendaeagh

Within the SW sector of a burial ground (GA125-050001-) and immediately to the E of a holy well (GA125-050002-). According to local information, this ‘tomb’ was built by Edmund Mullen during the course of his lifetime. Edmund had lived nearby in a ruined house to the NE and had looked after the holy well. On inspection in August 1985, the monument (Wth 3.3m; H 2.15m), which was built into the S face of a hillock, was constructed of roughly worked mortared limestone blocks and a number of dressed cut-stones of medieval date, including window mullions, a segmental arch and a stone head (GA125-050005-), were incorporated into it. The stone head was set above the keystone of the arch and crowned the structure. A slab below the arch was decorated with a resurrection scene and included following inscription: The resurrection of our Saviour. Another decorated and inscribed slab (H 1.2m; Wth 0.6m), which was probably originally part of this structure, was noted lying semi-recumbent on a pile of stones c. 4m to the ENE of the holy well. It was dedicated to Edmund who died in 1806. The upper part of the slab bears a crucifixion scene with the following inscription beneath it: This monument/erected by Edmd/Mullen in hoh/of Our Lord and/Saviour Jesus Ch/rist and the Ble/ssed Virgin Mary/As you are now/so once was I/Pray for me/As you pass by On re-inspection in March 2010, the interior of the burial ground was very heavily poached and had greatly deteriorated. Works had been carried out on the structure with the construction of roughly coursed walling on either side of it. The segmental arch had been removed and replaced with two slabs that formed a part of a gabled roof. Overgrowth and ivy had been removed from it. The stone head had also been removed and its current location is unknown. The following images have been uploaded: GA125-005001-_07.jpg Slab commemorating Edmund Mullen GA125-050004-_12.jpg View from S GA125-050004-_14.jpg Detailed view of top of structure GA125-050004-_16.jpg View from SE Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 24 July 2023