Raheenyhooig Grave Yard, dotted outline — Ráithín Uí Bhuaigh

Raheenyhooig graveyard/Ráithín Uí Bhuaigh: The graveyard described in the OSNB (Dingle, book 2, 6) as about 2.5 chains (50m) in diameter, with a roughly circular 'old ditch' around it, had been enclosed within a rectangular enclosure by 1896 (2nd edition, OS map). An Seabhac (1939, 41) referred to the site as a rath (KE053-059001-), but there is now no trace of any such monument. In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details: 'Raheenyhooig- Ráithín Uí Bhuaigh Graveyard is situated on elevated ground, at 50m OD, sloping towards and overlooking Dingle Harbour 0.8km to the north. Examination of the 2nd Edition of 1896 clearly shows the enormous changes that Lord Ventry made in 1870 including the planting of trees, construction of squared off enclosing banks and new roadway as well as the Ventry mausoleum-denoted ‘Vault’ on the map. An ‘L’ shaped pathway is also shown. Of particular interest is the denotation of the remains of the previous enclosure [KE053-059001-] or raheen of the burial ground by a curving array of hachures. In the course of this study a coherent section of the early enclosure and at least thirty archaeological artefacts (mainly cross-slabs) were recorded at Raheenyhooig. The small almost square graveyard of Raheenyhooig is still in use today although not very often. The graveyard is situated on a hillside and is demarcated on three sides by tall mature trees that were planted circa 1870 by Dayrolles Blakeney de Moleyns, the 4th Lord Ventry when he undertook major alterations to the earlier burial ground that was enclosed in an earthen enclosure, possibly a ringfort'. Lord Ventry also built a large mausoleum (563) at the same time for his family into which he apparently interred the remains of his ancestor Thomas, 3rd Lord Ventry who died in 1868 from a nearby tomb (pers. comm. Pádraig Ó Siochfhrada). Dayrolles died in 1914 and was interred in the mausoleum. Over the door is a simple marble plaque inscribed ’Ventry’. The mausoleum is a recorded protected structure (RPS 21305305), of regional importance. The interior of the graveyard is complex and comprises of three distinct areas:- (a) the more recent perimeter burial areas relating to the enlargement of the burial ground by Lord Ventry circa 1870 i.e. along all the current boundaries; (b) comprises an inner platform area that rises significantly over the entrance and roadside area to the NE and is partially enclosed or delimited by a high earthen bank circa 3m externally; the third area also comprises a raised platform also enclosed by the remains of a low curving bank within which is the greatest concentration of early burials, denoted by cross-slabs, notched headstones and unhewn headstones as well as a number of tombs and burials up to around the mid 19th century, prior to the enlargement by Lord Ventry. A recently constructed, wide, gravelled path extends around the internal perimeter. Some open graves were covered during the recent works at the graveyard with concrete slabs. However, several of them were poorly set in place and some have slipped while others have partially fallen in to the graves they were supposed to cover. A curving or crescential section of a steep sided earthen bank extends in a general NW-SE direction. This bank no doubt reflects the relict remains of the original raheen or ráithín-little-fort, (from which the first element of the name Raheenyhooig is derived from). The second element in the name appears to be a personal name-Uí Bhuaigh. All of the early burials are concentrated within this area while the more recent burials, i.e. interments since the latter half of the 19th century, are disposed around the SE sector by the Ventry mausoleum or along the perimeter of the graveyard. Raheenyhooig Graveyard is bounded on three sides (north-west, south-west and south-east by an earthen bank behind which are expansive mature trees, mainly sycamore. The front roadside or north-east boundary is low and built of earth and stone and surmounted in fuchsia and other vegetation. The entrance to Raheenyhooig is through a pair of modern galvanised gates that are set between two square, capped and rendered piers. There are sixteen named tombs recorded in Raheenyhooig Graveyard. Ten of them are of the ‘strong-box’ type and the other six are simple rectangular box or chest type. In the course of this survey fifteen previously unrecorded cross-slabs were recorded in Raheenyhooig alone, several of which date to the 7th – 8th centuries AD. Twenty unnamed tombs were recorded in various states of preservation. There were eighty-five named headstones recorded in Raheenyhooig Graveyard associated with formal grave settings and two 19th century rectangular and horizontal grave slabs. One tomb worthy of particular attention is the 1846 tomb of John Forhan, (337). On the east end of its memorial slab is a very well executed, lightly incised ship-graffiti from the second half of the 19th century. There were one hundred and eighteen unnamed headstones (HWN) recorded in the course of this survey at Raheenyhooig. There were thirteen notched, unnamed headstones recorded in the course of this survey at Raheenyhooig. They are disposed around the centre of the graveyard within the limits of the earlier enclosure and many of them are difficult to see due to dense grass. All of the notched headstones are simple grave markers of unhewn local sandstone that have a distinct notch on the top of the stone-sometimes with side notches also. These headstones date from the medieval period and are the most basic cross form of burial marker in graveyards. Notched headstones have been recorded by the writer in several graveyards in Kerry and indeed as far away as St. Colman’s Graveyard on Inishbofin (Dunne 2007). A re-used notched gravestone was excavated by the writer from the base of a slab-lined grave in Smerwick (Dunne, 2005). Sixteen previously unrecorded cross-slabs were recorded in Raheenyhooig Graveyard. They are disposed around the centre of the graveyard within the limits of the earlier enclosure. Two of the cross-slabs (74, 564) are loose while a third (57) lies flat on the surface. Fifteen have inscribed crosses while the sixteenth (169) is shaped in a ‘Tau’ form, similar to other examples at Kilmalkedar and Kildrum graveyards west of Dingle. The Tau motif is also featured on three other stones (57, 145 and 167). Two are deeply scored and feature ‘T’ bars on all terminals. Cross-slab (564) is a thin rectangular slab with upper LH corner broken. The stone features a lightly incised motif comprises interlaced triangular panels set within a square, pendant to which is a vertical shaft of three lines and two arms with ‘C’ scroll returns. This particular interlaced motif is not paralleled in the corpus of cross-slabs on the Dingle or Iveragh Peninsulas although the ‘C’ scrolls feature on a number of early slabs. The cross-slab lies somewhat loosely and precariously against a collapsed lintelled grave. Five of the cross-slabs (9, 64, 142 and 365) are decorated with Latin crosses with ‘T’ bar terminals. Cross-slab (94) has a small Latin cross inscribed on its uppermost top surface. Another Latin cross with triangular expanded terminals, is inscribed on a thin rectangular flag (90). Two very lightly incised cross-slabs are located close together (159 and 160). One (159) is incised with an unusual cross that has two diagonal lines supporting both arms. The upper part of the shaft displays a series of diagonal lines emanating up and out from it. There are two small equal armed crosses above and below the left arm of the main cross. Above the lower one the letters J C are inscribed. The second stone (160) has a very small, possible Cross of Lorraine, as it features two arms of unequal span, the uppermost arm is executed in a ‘V’ shape. Cross-slab (131) is a low slab with rounded top that possibly dates to the late 17th century or