Grave Yard — Ardfert

Ardfert graveyard was surveyed and described by Laurence Dunne in 2012 as follows; 'The early Medieval monastic complex of structures, cathedral and graveyard is situated on the northern limits of the village Ardfert circa 8 km north of Tralee. The complex includes the excavated and conserved ruins of a medieval cathedral [KE020-046002-] whose chronology extends between the 11th to the 17th centuries. There are two other extant structures including the 12th century church known as ‘Templenahoe’ [KE020-046007-] and a later 15th century church called ‘Templenagriffin’ [KE020-046001-] that has been recently conserved and restored. The complex also contained a 36m high round tower [KE020-046003-] that collapsed in 1771. A few in situ stones corresponding to the basal courses of the round tower are still discernible today as well as a number of ex situ ones scattered around the immediate area. A 19th century tomb (No. 38) partially extends over the round tower site (Barrington 1976, 252). The cathedral was fully excavated by Fionnbarr Moore, senior archaeologist with the NMS, over a seven year period in tandem with major conservation works carried out by Grellan Rourke of the OPW. These works have now been completed and Ardfert cathedral is now a managed visitor centre open to the public. All excavated interments in the cathedral were reburied in the newer section of the graveyard abutting the old one at the east. Three entrances are available-two of which lead into the old graveyard area that encompasses the historic churches and cathedral while the third leads directly into the newer graveyard section abutting the older one at the east end. There is another separate entrance into the visitor centre via the main door of the south transept directly from the kerbside. A high iron gate is set between two square limestone piers at the SE end of the south boundary wall a little to the east of the south transept. A modern galvanised gate provides access into the western area of the graveyard and is in good order. Entrance into the newer graveyard area is provided for by a pair of iron gates in poor order, neglected and rusted. The gates are set between a pair of solid square limestone piers with ‘soldier’ capping. Abutting the east pier is a squeeze-stile made from slate. The southern boundary wall extending west from the south transept is circa 1.8m high and is constructed with rubble limestone bonded in mortar with the mid section laid to courses. The west limits of the graveyard is enclosed buy a stone wall outside of which and abutting the OPW use as a works depot. There is a breach in the north-west corner of the wall. The east party wall between the old and lower newer graveyard is uncapped and virtually covered in ivy. The north boundary parallel to the cathedral is constructed with rubble limestone and is in general good order although ivy has established itself. Further west the area around the two churches is enclosed by a modern green chain-link fence. The lower newer graveyard is enclosed by a low rubble limestone wall with rounded cement capping along its south-east and northern limits. A strong growth of ivy has established itself along the north and north-eastern sections of the wall. There are eighty-eight, (88), tombs in Ardfert graveyard. The vast majority of which (80) are situated within the older medieval graveyard area. The tombs are the haunched ‘strong-box’ type as well as gabled house type as well. Only one tomb, TB60, contained a reused medieval masonry fragment comprising a chamfered limestone block, No. 18. A total of 224 named and generally modern headstones (HS) were recorded. The vast majority are modern and in good order and in the main are distributed across the newer graveyard area (circa 60%) to the east. However, in the older medieval area of the graveyard there are a number of very fine 18th and 19th century headstones that are very fine carved and decorated. There are 402 uninscribed rough unhewn gravemarkers dispersed throughout the older medieval graveyard with only five situated in the later newer graveyard area to the east. A total of twenty-seven (27) horizontal graveslabs were recorded at Ardfert. There are twenty (20) architectural fragments in Ardfert graveyard. The vast majority (13) are clustered together both in situ (3) and ex situ (10 ) associated with the round tower that collapsed in 1771. One of the masonry fragments (AF 1) is painted white and comprises a section of a 15th century window mullion and stands within a formal graveyard immediately inside the west entrance gateway beside the pathway. A single holed or perforated unnamed gravemarker was recorded in the old graveyard area a little to the west of the south transept' (Dunne 2012, 3-11). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 9 May 2022