Burial Ground — Glenderry

St Macadaw's Church (in ruins), graveyard (KE013-023003-). This church is situated on the S coastline of Kerry Head and is called Kilvicada Church, Cill Mhic Deá, meaning the 'Church of the son of Daigh' i.e. the church of St Erc. About 3m from the E gable there is a square stone mound, 3.2m x 3.2m, and situated on top of this is a sculptured rock which had a cross painted in red on its side. The cross can still be seen. There is an alcove at the top of the sculptured rock to hold the round amulets locally known as 'bauleys'. According to tradition, two round amulets were blessed by St Erc and are believed to be a cure for all evils and ills. One of the bauleys lies in the graveyard, while the other is held in safe-keeping by the local Corridan family, who hold exclusive burial rights to the graveyard. The use and tradition of these amulets is interesting; a quantity of water is taken from the nearby holy well (KE013-026----) and placed in a vessel with the amulet, and the water is then drunk in honour of St Erc. Folklore collected from Glenderry School recorded the following tradition about this graveyard; ‘There is an other churchyard in Kell (?) but it is a small one. It is only Corridans are buried there, before a Corridon dies a light is seen there, and the banshee is heard' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417C, Page 01_039;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5236104/5232552/5236947?ChapterID=5236104). Another story from Glenderry School recorded that; 'There is a church [KE013-023001-] at Keel and no one only the Corridon family and the young "unbaptised" babies are buried there also. It is said that before any of the Corridons dies, there is a light seen, and that three others die immediately after them. There is a stone about the size of an orange there on a big store, and if any one takes it away it would be back the next morning, without fail' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417C, Pages 02_030-31; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5236104/5232597/5236972?ChapterID=5236104). Folklore collected from Booleenshare School recorded the following details about this graveyard; 'Keel is in the western end of the Parish about three miles from Ballyheigue on the shore of Tralee Bay. It occupies about one rood of ground with the sacred ruin [KE013-023001-] in the centre which was occupied by a community of monks under Bishop Erc. It is said a light is seen before any of the Corridons die. A Caoine is also heard in the district if any one of them die whether it be at home or in far off Australia or America. It is also remarked if one of them dies, two others of (the) Corridon family are buried there within the same year. There are very few crosses or monuments. The dead are buried in tombs and graves over which crosses are erected as a token of respect, by the friends of the deceased' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0417, Pages 448-9; https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4678380/4673857). The above description is derived from C. Toal, ‘North Kerry Archaeological Survey’. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority (1995), no. 942. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 19 May 2022