Grave Yard — Killilagh

On a low ENE-WSW ridge in undulating pastureland, with wide views. Indicated and named ‘Grave Yard’ on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map. A subrectangular graveyard (48m ENE-WSW; 37.5m NNW-SSE) defined by a stone wall with a gate on the W side. The overgrown interior slopes to the SW, with a church (CL008-063001-) in the centre and highest point. There are many upright and recumbent headstones in the graveyard, mainly dating to the 19th and 20th centuries with some earlier examples also, including a headstone (CL008-063004-) dating to c. 1630. Other cut-stone pieces are also found in the graveyard, including several architectural fragments (Large 2011). There are also accounts of previously noted fragments at the graveyard which have since gone missing (e.g., Spellissy 1983, 10; 1984, 64; Swinfen 1992, 52). A carved limestone head (CL016-171----) with a biretta, projecting from a rectangular block and therefore probably a corbel, had been lying in the graveyard until 1971 when it was taken and later recovered; it is now on display in the Burren Centre in Kilfenora (Rynne 1976; Cunningham 1980, 88; Swinfen 1992, 53). A McNamara family burial vault (1882) abuts the S exterior of the graveyard (Spellissy 1983, 10). There is an enclosure (CL008-063003-) immediately to the WSW of the graveyard. A ringfort (CL008-066----) lies c. 85m to the E. Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 11 January 2023 Spellissy, S. 1983 A Doolin walk: from Tuath Clae Church to Doonagore Castle. The Other Clare 7, 8-13.