Templenakilla (in Ruins) — Íochtar Cua

Templenakilla / Teampall na Cille: This church and burial ground are located in sloping pasture on the SW side of the ridge on which the Eightercua stone row stands (KE098-047002-). The first edition of the OS map depicts the church at the intersection of three field boundaries, two of which enclose a burial ground on its S side. Recent land improvement operations have resulted in the removal of these boundaries and the levelling of the burial area. The rectangular church, of rubble construction, is orientated E-W and measures 9.7m x 4.5m internally. Its walls average .95m thick and survive to a maximum external height of 2.1m at W. They average .7m high, except at S, where only the foundation courses remain. The entrance may have been located here. The interior of the church is filled with rubble and field clearance debris, which obscure the grave-markers noted by Henry within its W half. Henry also recorded ‘extensive but confused foundations of buildings’ surrounding the church (1957, 140). These are no longer apparent. There is now no visible trace of the burial ground (KE098-048002-) which abutted the S side of the church and was used as a place for the interment of children (OSM). It had become disused by the late nineteenth century (OSRNB). Land improvement operations in 1990 revealed a spread of human bone, marine shells and stone close to the SW corner of the church. A second, thin spread of shells, occupying an area about 4m square, was noted c. 16m S of the church. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 1090. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 31 July 2013