Ecclesiastical enclosure in Cill Chuáin

Kilquane church and graveyard/ Cill Chuáin (KE034-106004-): The modern rectangular graveyard and site of the medieval parish church are located directly S of Kilquane village at the foot of the W slopes of Brandon Peak. The outline of an earlier, probably circular enclosure can be traced outside the NW wall of the graveyard and a bullaun stone lies within the former. One of the roofing slabs to a modern grave was reported to have a possible ogham inscription. The authenticity of the inscription could not be verified as the stone has been removed and could not be located on this occasion. Amongst the older gravemarkers in the graveyard are a rude stone cross, 0.68m high x 0.54m wide, and a few notched stones. Early Enclosure: This consists of a semi-circular platform abutting the NW side of the graveyard. It measures 48m NE-SW x c. 20m NW-SE a maximum of 0.75m in height and is bisected WNW-ESE by a field wall. The S portion is occupied by several barely discernible mounds and at the centre is a rectangular feature consisting of a depression, 2.8 x 1.4m, enclosed by a low stony bank up to .25m high. Bullaun Stone (KE034-106002-): An irregularly-shaped stone measuring .8 x .78m, with a large irregularly-shaped depression, 0.43 x 0.53m, on its upper surface. At the base of the larger depression are 3 circular depressions varying from 0.13 to 0.21m in diameter and from 0.14 to 0.08m in depth. Church (KE034-106003-): There appears to have been a church here by 1475 (Cal Pap Reg, 13, 460). It is not included however in the list of churches in the diocese in 1622 (TCD Ms 2158, 94) and may have fallen into disrepair before that date. In 1841 the remains of the church, 15.25 x 5.38m with walls 1.4m thick, were visible in the graveyard; the N, W and E walls were reduced to foundations, but the extant section of the S wall preserved the remains of a lintelled doorway (OSL). No trace of the church is now visible but 2 pivot stones lying loose in the graveyard may be related. One is a rectangular slab with a central perforation measuring .12m in diameter; this resembles the pivot stones preserved above the doorway in Gallarus oratory (KE042-071004-). The 2nd stone is broken but preserves a small perforation measuring 0.03m in diameter. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 857. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 9 August 2013