Grave Yard — Keel (trughanacmy By.)

Kilgarrylander church ruins stands in the centre of a roughly rectangular-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 77m N-S x 55m E-W). In this graveyard are two similar grave-markers (H 0.48m and 0.68m), possibly a headstone and footstone. One of the stones has a cross on its E face and the other has a circle divided into arcs on its W face. Neither stone has any lettering or date of it. Graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Dunne (2012) as follows; 'The old graveyard contains the relict upstanding partial remains of the medieval parish church [KE046-021----]. Inspection of the 1st Edition OS map of 1841, sheet 46 shows that the graveyard was unenclosed at that time. The 1st Edition map also shows that the glebe lands extended from the NE limits of site and interestingly records the words Grave Yard Glebe at the site. The graveyard was enclosed some time in the second half of the 19th century as further examination of the 2nd Edition OS map of 1896 denotes it as enclosed. The entrance comprises a wrought iron gate painted black and in good condition. It is set between a pair of square robust piers constructed of squared sandstone blocks with slightly rounded stone capping. A wide stepped stile is situated immediately beside the gate on the E side. The remains of another blocked up entrance is still visible at the NW limits of the graveyard. Keel Graveyard is bounded by a random rubble wall of local sandstone bedded in mortar and in general good condition although ivy has established itself on sections here and there. The NW limits of the boundary wall is low on the interior and has suffered much in the past from mature trees the stumps of some of which still survive. There were twenty-two tombs recorded in Keel Graveyard in the course of this survey. There were ninety-eight (98) named headstones recorded at Keel graveyard. There were an incredible six-hundred and sixty-nine unhewn gravemarkers in total recorded in the course of this survey. All comprise simple gravemarkers of unhewn local sandstone and are disposed around the entirety of the burial ground often in rows. There were seven (7) cross inscribed headstones (CS) recorded in Keel graveyard. All bar one have Latin crosses some with T-bar terminals. Both slabs possibly date to the 18th century while the other five most likely date to the 17th or early 19th centuries. Twenty seven (27) architectural fragments were recorded in Keel Graveyard. Twenty five of the AFs comprise masonry from the medieval church, the majority of which are chamfered blocks that most likely reflect a string or eaves course of the structure. All but two are situated in various locations in the graveyard with a noted cluster to the W of the church between Tombs 7 & 8. Two lie loose on the ground, AF 22 & 23. Two others have been recently built into the boundary wall at the N-E corner. One of which, AF25, is a sandstone, 15th century twin light ogee head from the medieval church. The second, AF 27, appears to have been originally a rotary quern stone that was recently modified and adapted as a pseudo stoup. One other associated feature worth recording here is a very fine stone trough that has been re-used to accommodate a very fine bronze crucifixion staff . The trough and crucifixion are built into the mid section of the E boundary wall' (Dunne 2012). Folklore collected from Fybagh School about 'Keel Churchyard' recorded the following tradition; 'The churchyard is situated in Keel about a quarter of a mile to the south of the Whitegate. It is a very big graveyard. It is enclosed by four walls and high trees. There is an old ruin [KE046-021----] in the middle of the graveyard. Two of the side walls and one gable are still standing. This old ruin was a chapel and in ancient times mass was heard there. Long ago where there was a graveyard there was a chapel. Long ago children without Baptism were not buried in Keel churchyard. They were buried in Kileen in a field where there is a big stone called [?]cloc na h-altora. They were buried near this stone. Kileen got its name from this graveyard for unbaptised children. They are now buried in the churchyard along by the wall. There was a big tomb in the churchyard. The Raes were landlords long ago and they owned it' (The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0432, Page 309a;https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4687708/4685906/4707741?ChapterID=4687708). See attached plan and photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 23 May 2022