Ballynahaglish — Ankail

Ballynahaglish/Balie na hEaglaise: Located directly N of old Tahilla village and NW of Coongar Harbour, this site, which is still used as a burial ground (KE100-015003-), commands an excellent view of Kenmare Bay and the Beara Peninsula to S. It consists of a subcircular enclosure containing the site of a church and a souterrain. Enclosure: The area enclosed measures 44m N-S x 57.5m E-W. It is delimited by a bank of earth and stone which averages 4m in basal width and varies from 1.7m to 2.4m in external height. The bank is partly overgrown with trees and bushes and is intermittently faced with stone, both internally and externally. This facing appears to be relatively modern in date. A modern entrance to the site is located at S, and for much of its circumference the enclosure is skirted by a trackway. The interior of the site is raised above surrounding ground level and is flush with the top of the enclosing element at W. It features a number of modern tombs and headstones, as well as numerous uninscribed upright slabs. In its SE quadrant is a slab set on edge with a circular depression on its E face; this measures .35m in diameter and .15m deep. The slab stands .55m high and measures .72m long and .22m thick. 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. 924. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013