Aglish Grave Yard — An Eaglais (corca Dhuibhne)

Aglish church (KE054-032001-) and graveyard (KE054-032002-): The parish church of Minard is mentioned in the Papal Taxation List (1302-1307) for the diocese of Ardfert (Cal Docs Ire, V, 297) and in 1633 was under the patronage of the Earl of Orrery (TCD Ms 2158, 37). The foundations of a church were formerly visible in the rectangular graveyard at Aglish but local tradition maintains that this church was of mid-17th century date and had previously been located elsewhere (Windele 1848, 465-6). It is possible that Kilmurry (KE054-061----) was the original parish church and that it was removed to Aglish subsequent to the destruction of nearby Minard castle (KE054-063----) in 1650. However, Hickson (1888, 446) suggests the opposite, that the 13th century parish church stood at Aglish and that Kilmurry was erected after 1307 'when Aglish had fallen to decay, or became too small for the district'. In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details: 'Aglish (eaglais/church) is a small grass covered graveyard situated on sharply sloping south facing hillside at 100m OD near Minard, 8km west of Anascaul and 11.5km east of Dingle on a minor third class road off the N86. Aglish on its south facing sloping site has spectacular views of Dingle Bay and the Iveragh Peninsula although somewhat restricted by mature sycamore trees along its southern and eastern limits. The graveyard is significantly raised above the roadside creating a more gently sloping interior. The origins of the ecclesiastic site at Aglish however, are much earlier and date to the Early Medieval period as two ogham stones are recorded from there. Today only one is in situ. while the second 5th- 6th century cross-inscribed ogham stone was removed for some unknown reason to the National Museum of Ireland where it is currently on display. In the course of this survey a cross-slab was also recorded. Aglish Graveyard is little used today and has only three modern formalised grave settings. The majority of interments are placed in above ground tombs, seventy six of which were recorded in the course of this survey. Apart from tombs there are thirty six unnamed graves at Aglish denoted by simple unhewn headstones disposed about the centre of the graveyard in particular. Aglish graveyard is bounded on three sides (north, east and south) by a low dry stone wall. The entrance to Aglish is through a pair of modern galvanised gates that are set between two square, capped and rendered piers. Twenty nine named tombs were recorded in varying states of preservation some of which are now manifest as grass covered mounds. Forty-seven unnamed tombs were recorded in various states of preservation. Only four 20th century inscribed headstones (HN, Nos. 287, 373, 389 and 390) were recorded in Aglish graveyard associated with formal grave settings. There were thirty-six unnamed headstones (HWN) in total recorded in the course of this survey. All of the unnamed headstones are simple grave markers of unhewn local sandstone. These unhewn headstones are disposed around the centre of the graveyard and are impossible to date without excavation. A previously unrecorded cross inscribed grave stone was recorded in Aglish Grave yard. The small, white lichen covered rectangular grave marker is lightly incised with an equal armed cross. An ogham stone (391) is situated beside tomb 202. A second 5th - 6th century Maltese cross inscribed ogham stone was removed from Aglish Graveyard to the NMI' (Dunne 2010, 2-8). The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 810. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. See attached plan and photographs courtesy of Laurence Dunne Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 June 2022