Grave Yard — Cill Maoilchéadair

National Monument No. 65. The Early Christian and Medieval ecclesiastical complex at Kilmalkedar (KE042-026----) lies at the foot of the W slopes of Reenconnell hill, overlooking Smerwick Harbour. The Reenconnell ridge peaks at 907 feet/276m to NE of the site and the area around Kilmalkedar is sheltered on its N and S sides by spurs of this hill. (16) (KE042-026017-) Graveyard and gravemarkers: The rectangular graveyard has been extended north-westwards since the making of the 2nd edition of the OS map when it measured 60m SW-NE x 41m NW-SE. Many of the older graves are marked by 1 or 2 upright stones, some of which are notched or inscribed with a simple cross. The most interesting of these gravemarkers include 2 small Tau crosses, one of which is inscribed with a simple cross (fig. 192b and d), 2 small stone crosses, one of which bears faint traces of a 3-sided outline square at the crossing of arms and shaft on its W face (fig. 192a and g), a small upright stone inscribed on its E face with the letters R.I.P. and an equal-armed cross with expanded terminals (fig. 192c), and a small stone inscribed on its E face with a Latin cross with expanded or bar terminals (fig. 192e). Another grave is marked by what appears to be a reused spud stone. In 2011 a graveyard survey carried out by Ann Frykler and Robert Hanbidge of Headland Archaeology Ltd. recorded the following details; ‘Kilmalkedar Graveyard is located on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry; within the townland of Kilmalkedar, approximately 1.8 km east‐southeast of the town of Murreagh and approximately 6.7km northwest of Dingle. The graveyard is situated on the lower slopes of Reenconnell Mountain which forms one of the lower peaks along the Dingle Peninsula. The graveyard has extensive panoramic views over Smerwick Harbour and the surrounding landscape to the west and southwest. Kilmalkedar Graveyard is divided into two areas. The historic area of the graveyard is located in the eastern half and is sub‐rectangular in plan. The majority of the recorded RMPs are located within area. A new graveyard extension adjoins the western boundary of the historic graveyard. The majority of the central dividing wall between these two areas has been removed but the division is further evident in a sharp change in slope and a line of nineteenth and twentieth century tombs. A short avenue bounded by drystone walling curves around the southern portion of the graveyard extension to give direct access to the historic area of the graveyard via a stile. Other points of entry include another stile and a gated entrance to the north‐western boundary of the graveyard extension. The boundary walls surrounding the graveyard consist of locally sourced drystone with split rubblestone and undressed rubblestone forming the coping. Generally the walls are in good condition throughout the graveyard, however there are some areas of overgrowth, especially to the north‐eastern boundary to the north of the church ruins where a large tract of the boundary is concealed by overgrowth. Dividing the historic section of the graveyard from the graveyard extension are the remains of a drystone wall which originally formed the western boundary to the historic section of the graveyard. This wall survives in poor condition with only portions of it remaining visible. However this boundary does remain clearly defined by a sharp change in slope and a marked height difference in ground level, the historic graveyard occupying a higher elevation. A northeast/southwest orientated line of tombs further defines the division. Rendered piers flank the entrance to the northwest and a recent stile is located within the northwestern boundary. A gated entrance is located approximately midway along the northwest boundary wall to the graveyard extension. This entrance comprises of a pair of recent render square profile gate piers with render coping supporting a set of galvanised wrought‐iron gates. A recent ‘V’‐shaped stile is also located within the north‐western boundary. A second stile of historic date is located within the southern boundary to the original graveyard. This stile comprises of projecting flagstones protruding from the wall to both the north and south elevations which form steps to give access over the wall. There are 16 named tombs within Kilmalkedar Graveyard. The tombs are generally in good condition and are located throughout the graveyard. All of the tombs are rectangular in plan and vary in construction and masonry. There are 26 unnamed tombs within Kilmalkedar Graveyard. These are located throughout and generally in good condition with only a few in moderate condition due to intrusive overgrowth. There are 222 named headstones and plots at Kilmalkedar Graveyard. The majority of these are in good condition and mostly date to the mid‐late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In total 32 unnamed headstones and grave plots are present at Kilmalkedar Graveyard. These vary greatly in condition with 16 suffering from collapse or partial collapse of the roof structure. Only 3 named gravemarkers were recorded during the survey of Kilmalkedar graveyard. Overall 506 unnamed gravemarkers were recorded within Kilmalkedar Graveyard, the majority of which are of modest form and consist of a simple locally sourced stone placed upright in the ground e.g. Grave No. 259. They are concentrated in the historic section of the graveyard and are for the most part randomly placed, although some northwest/southeast orientated linear arrangements were observed to the eastern. A small group of 23 unnamed gravemarkers are of particular interest as they appear to represent the reuse roof slabs. These stone markers were characterised by the presence of a notch to the breadth of the stone slab, e.g. Grave No. 367. Most of these gravemarkers had one notch; however a minority within this group had multiple notches to their surfaces, e.g. Grave No. 597. Another group of 10 unnamed gravemarkers are also recorded as miscellaneous items as they represent the reuse of either an archaeological or architectural stone. Seventeen lintelled graves were recorded during this survey of Kilmalkedar Graveyard. Again, these forms of graves vary in condition from moderate to poor. Generally the lintelled graves tend to be concentrated around the church ruins with two burials; Grave Nos. 803 and 812 located within the nave and chancel of the church ruins. Since these graves are located below the ground surface, they are only identifiable when the stone lintels are uncovered or where there is break in the grass cover; hence there is a strong possibility of further lintelled graves within this graveyard which are not visible at ground level' (Hanbidge 2011, 1-16). See attached plan of graveyard courtesy of Robert Hanbidge The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 855. 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: 7 July 2022