What is recorded here
Grave Yard is a children's burial ground beside a dried lake in County Mayo, Ireland. Its low stone bank still holds a small church and scattered markers, while a holy well waits nearby. The place keeps young lives close to water that no longer flows, giving death a tender, unfinished shape.
In pasture, located on a SW-facing slope, close to the base of the slope. To SW the ground shelves away gently for c. 50m to the old shore line of Mannin Lake (now dried up as a result of drainage).
The graveyard encompasses a rectangular area (c. 35-40m NW–SE; 25-30m NE–SW) enclosed by a low sod-covered stony rise or scarp. The enclosing element is best preserved on the NE and SW sides where there is a relatively well-defined earth and stone bank (Wth 2m; int. H 0.6m; ext. H 0.2m). The NW side is defined by a dilapidated stony scarp. The SW side is more difficult to trace; the sloping ground here is slightly terraced, with remnants of two parallel poorly preserved scarps. A field fence on a NNE–SSW axis crosses the SE edge of the enclosure.
The interior space is slightly raised and slopes gently to SW, reflecting the natural fall of ground. The remains of a church (MA092-019001-) are located in the N quadrant. A marked concentration of low, uninscribed stone gravemarkers protrude from the sod immediately to E, S and W of the church. According to local information, the graveyard was used as a children’s burial ground (MA092-019004-). A holy well (MA092-019003-) is located c. 30m to SE.
Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 18 February 2022
The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.
- What survives
- Recorded monument
Places near here
Kilronan WellHoly well · 56 yd
IndicatedFairy fort / earthen ringfort · 383 yd
CastleCastle, unclassified · 1509 yd
Mannin Housefarm house · 1560 yd
Saint Joseph's Catholic Churchchurch/chapel · 1.7 mi
Rath Castle in ruinsCastle, tower house · 2.6 mi
East Mayo Brigade MonumentMemorial · 4.3 mi
Knock MuseumMuseum · 4.3 mi
I'll Send You The FareMemorial · 8.1 mi
Geoffrey's WoodForest · 11 mi