What is recorded here

Templeboy Church stands in the Cillín field, a name meaning children's burial ground, though no stone or marker remains visible. The church vanished before the first maps drew its ghost, leaving only a rectangular shadow in the earth and a holy well nearby. Children may have slept beneath that field while adults forgot their names, their small lives reduced to a word preserved in local speech.

According to O'Kelly (1969, 88) the Templeboy Church (KK025-027001-), 'is known locally as Teámpall beag and the site is in the Cillín field'. The term 'Cillín field' suggests a possible children's burial ground in the vicinity of the church. The precise location of this church is unclear. On the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map to the left/W of the words, 'Site of Templeboy Church', a rectangular area (dims. c. 50m E-W; c. 15m N-S) is indicated. The lower/S and E portion of which is shown by a dotted line, indicating a general area, rather than a specific location, immediately S and E of a field boundary. A holy well, 'Toberboy' is indicated 10m to the N, in the adjoining field. On the 1900 revision and 25-inch OS map the church site is indicated with a cross in a small field (dims. c. 22m NW-SE; c. 13m NE-SW) to the W of Gothic script on the 1st ed. map. This is shown as a slightly bigger field, or haggard, on the 1st ed. map, immediately S of a farmyard. The small field indicated as the church site on the 1900 revision has been removed, though the SW field boundary and the S portion of the NW boundary have been retained. There is no trace of the church at ground level at either location. Until more precise information is available, the possible children's burial ground has been located to the rectangular area indicated on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map, which is currently an unenclosed area in the NW angle of a reclaimed field. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 1 March 2022

Children's burial ground (cillín), likely medieval to early modern period. These sites were used for the burial of unbaptised or stillborn children and reflect early Christian burial practices and local religious customs.

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.