Ecclesiastical enclosure in Cill Fhiontain

Kilfountan Church and Calluragh burial ground/Teampall Fionntain: A roughly D-shaped or sub-oval enclosure within which are the remains of an oratory and rectangular hut, a cross-inscribed ogham stone and a bullaun stone. A quernstone from the site, probably of Disc A type (Caulfield 1969, 64 and 69), is now in the Museum in Cork. Children were still being buried here in the 19th century (OSNB Kildrum, 31). The site is located in the low-lying, level plain that lies N of Dingle Harbour. The enclosure measures 41m N-S x 28m E-W internally and is defined by a stone-faced earthen bank which reaches a maximum height of .9m at WSW. The interior is raised slightly above the external ground level and along the SE sector the enclosure is defined only by the stone-faced edge of this platform. The bank along the W half of the site is curiously irregular in comparison with the regular curve of the remainder of the outline and it may be a later field boundary. It does not differ significantly from the adjacent field fences and there is no obvious break between it and the fence that continues from it to N. It is not clear where the original entrance lay. The interior is divided NNE-SSW internally by a low bank, no more than .3m high. At its SW end, this bank merges with an irregular stone and earth mound of uncertain origin. A short distance to NE of this there is a 1.2m wide entrance gap through the dividing bank. Hut site (KE043-144004-): The foundations of a rectangular hut lie in the N corner of the E part of the enclosure, the enclosure bank and internal dividing bank forming its W and N walls. It measures c. 5.2m E-W x 4.15m N-S internally. The walls are largely reduced to low banks but the inner face is preserved to a height of .42m at the NW and SW corners. Oratory (KE043-144003-): In the SE sector of the enclosure are the remains of a dry stone oratory 3.75m ESE-WNW x 3.15m NNE-SSW internally. The S, E and W walls are only partially preserved, but the corbel-built N wall stands to a height of 1.38m and is 1.8m thick. The doorway in the W wall, .7m wide, now lacks its head; a large flag lying in the interior may originally have been a door lintel. Cross-slab (KE043-144005-): This is set loosely into the W side of a mound of quartz which merges with the collapse from the NE corner of the oratory. An arc of stone collapse, of uncertain origin, extends W from the N end of this mound. The cross-slab is a slender pillar standing 1.5m high and measuring .25 to .09m in width and its decorated S face is peculiarly spatulate in shape. The NE angle of the stone forms the stem-line for an ogham inscription that reads: EQODD According to Macalister (1945, 179-80), the name ended with an I but there is now no trace of the relevant scores. The upper part of the S face is occupied by an equal-armed cross with expanded terminals which is enclosed within a circle. This is surmounted by a scrolled crest, joined to the top of the circle by a short stem. Beneath the cross, but not pendant from it, is an elaborate design which ends in a pelta motif. Directly below the circle, a wide curved band runs across the width of the face and a circular boss has been left in relief at each end of this. Pendant from each end are a curved line which runs to meet the edge of the stone and a 2nd line which develops into the pelta design. Another line, pendant from the centre of the band, extends for a short distance between the latter. Below the ornament is an inscription in half-uncial script which reads: (F)INTEN To left of this, Macalister (1937, 221-7) deciphered the word SCI, preceded by a Chi-Rho. However, though there are vague traces of possible letters in this area, they do not form any recognisable pattern. Bullaun Stone: Lying loose beside the cross-slab, this stone measures .74m x .56m x .21m in depth. It is roughly rectangular in plan and basin-shaped in section and the oval depression in its upper surface measures .42m x .29m x .15m in depth. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 849. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013