Kildreenagh Burial Ground — An Lóthar

Kildreenagh Burial Ground/Cill Draighneach or Ceallúnach an Lóthair: This site is located in rough pasture on the lower W slopes of Farraniaragh mountain, overlooking Ballinskelligs Bay. It is enclosed by a stone wall and contains an oratory, a leacht, three cross-inscribed slabs, a circular hut, and an area of burial. The subcircular enclosure measures 31m N-S x 26m E-W internally and is defined by a poorly preserved stone wall. This measures up to 1.2m high externally, .9m high internally and varies from 2.3m to 4m in width. A series of slabs set on end flank its inner face at N, and elsewhere a number of uprights occur both internally and externally. A modem field boundary closely follows the outline of the enclosure at N. At SE there is a blocked entrance, 1.1m wide, with sides formed by upright slabs. Two opposing uprights at NW may represent a second entrance, but this is uncertain. A hut interrupts the circuit of the enclosing wall on its W side. The interior of the enclosure slopes down to W. A sub-rectangular raised area, .9m high and measuring 13.5m N-S x 8m E-W, abuts the enclosing clement in the NE quadrant of the enclosure. It is retained by a series of large upright slabs, many of them now inclining outwards, and is reached by two steps, flanked by opposing upright slabs, set .8m apart. Located on the platform is an oratory, a leacht, and three cross-inscribed stones. The above description is derived from O'Sullivan, A. and Sheehan, J. (compilers) 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University press. (1996), no. 963. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 13 June 2013