Burial Ground — Abbey Island

Ahamore Abbey/Mainistir Achaidh Mhóir commonly called Derrynane Abbey, is situated in a roughly rectangular graveyard (KE106-077002-) on the NE edge of Abbey Island, on the W side of Derrynane Bay. Access to the island, which is 36ha in area, is gained by crossing a beach, though it is cut off from the mainland by certain high tides. The church is traditionally associated with St Finan (OSNB Kilcrohane, 38), though Smith notes an association with St Finbarr of Cork (1756, 94). The remains are reputedly those of an Augustinian abbey, which was regarded by Cox as a cell of Molana Abbey, Co. Waterford (in de Brún 1972, 36). This connection, however, cannot be substantiated. The site contains the family vault of the O'Connells of Darrynane and the grave of the eighteenth-century Gaelic poet, Tomás Rua Ó Suilleabháin. The site is annotated simply as 'Abbey' on the first edition of the OS map, where it is depicted as an unenclosed group of buildings. Extensive burials (KE106-077002-) in the church (KE106-077003-) have resulted in a considerable rise in internal ground level. A pile of rubble at the base of the E gable obscures an area of regular coursing, which may represent an altar. In 1841 the tombstone of the O'Connell family was recorded by John O'Donovan (1983, 156) and described as follows; 'On a tomb raised over a vault inside the abbey church [KE106-077003-] above described, is the following inscription: D.O.M. Sacred to the Memory of DANILL O'CONNELL Formerly of Derrinane, Esq., Who departed this life in the month of September 1770 Full of years and of virtues. And of Mary his wife. She also was of ancient race, Of the house of O'Donoghue; She survived her husband 22 years, And was a model for wives and mothers To admire and to imitate. Requiescant in pace Here also are deposited the nortal remains of MAURICE O'CONNELL ESQ., Their son, who erected this Monument. The chief ambition of his long and prosperous life Was to elevate an ancient family from unmerited and unjust oppression. His allegiance was pure and disinterested, His love of his native land sincere and avowed And his attachment to the ancient faith of his fathers, To the Church of Christ, Was his first pride, and his chiefest consolation. He died on the 10th day of February in the year 1825 In the 97th year of his age. They loved him most who knew him best. May his soul rest in eternal peace'. In 2009 a graveyard survey carried out by Ann Frykler and Robert Hanbidge of Headland Archaeology Ltd. on behalf of Kerry County Council, recorded the following details about the graveyard: ‘Abbey Island (Derrynane) Graveyard is located within the townland Abbey Island/Darrynane More, Co. Kerry, situated approximately 41km southwest of Kenmare and approximately 9km southeast of Waterville, on the lveragh Peninsula. It is overlooked to the north by the Macgillycuddy Reek Mountains, the closest summits being that of Farraniaragh (approximately 3 km to the north) and Cahernageeha (approximately 3.5 km to the northeast). The graveyard forms part of Ahamore or Darrvnane Abbey (KE106-077003-) and is situated on the northeast part of a small island in Derrynane Bay. The quay and boat house are probably associated with Darrynane Abbey/House (980m to NE), the home of Daniel O'Connell, political leader of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries who is famously called "The Liberator" for his role in Catholic Emancipation. A sand bar links the north of the island to the mainland and is generally passable for most of the year with the exception of very high tides and storm surges The graveyard for the most part follows a rectangular plan and is enclosed by a roughly dressed rubble stone wall with rubble stone coping. A cliff edge defines the eastern extremity of graveyard. There are two entrances located in the northwest corner of the graveyard. The primary north-facing entrance is for pedestrians and does not have a gate. The secondary, west-facing entrance is larger, accommodating the width of a vehicle and the gate is a standard galvanised field gate. Within the centre of the graveyard are the ruins of a church containing a piscina and associated outbuildings which are traditionally associated with Saint Finan. The most recent burial to date during the time of this survey dates to July 2009 and is located inside the church ruin (O'Sullivan et al, 1996, 334). The oldest grave recorded with a date of 1770 within the graveyard belongs to the O'Connell tomb (Grave no. 565) within which the family of Daniel O'Connell, The Liberator are interred. The graveyard wall varies in height throughout the graveyard, with an average height of around 1.25 m. There is no boundary wall defining the eastern side of the graveyard, except for a cliff face dropping to the ocean. There is however, a small section of wall to the northern area of the eastern side, which represents the foundation of a boundary wall which has subsequently collapsed. Rendered and rubble stone piers flank the entrances with rendered and rubbles stone capping respectively. There are two entrances to the graveyard; both are located at the northwest corner of the gravevard. The primary entrance which is located on the north wall consists of a rendered and rubble stone piers with rendered and rubble stone capping respectively. No gates remains, but there are hinges within the piers suggesting that that there was once a gate here at an earlier stage. Render steps form an approach to this primary entrance. The secondary (larger) entrance located in the western wall, consists of a pair of rubble stone piers with rubble stone capping supporting a galvanised field gate. There are only three tombs represented on Abbey Island burial ground; two of which are located in and next to the church and one is close to the entrance. The two named tombs (Grave No's: 092 and 565) within the graveyard represent the Galvin and O'Connell family's respectively and both are in good condition. The O'Connell tomb inters the family of Daniel O'Connell, The Liberator, who lived at Darrynane Abbey/House. This tomb also represents the oldest named grave with the date 1770. Partly illegible the date possibly refers to the father or uncle of Daniel O'Connell. The tomb comprises of two ornately carved tooled limestone altars with fluted pilasters enclosing decorative panels to the sides. An inscribed grave slab to the upper tomb is surmounted by fluted pilasters with scrolled consoles flanking a cross inscribed plaque to the west having a moulded architrave surmounted by a pointed-arch enclosing a second plaque with a carved urn motif tooled stone stepped approach to the east provides access to the top tomb. The tomb is beautifully ornate, constructed from high crafted tooled stone displaying classical inspired decoration and deserves a special mentioning for its appearance; the tomb is still in use with the most recent burial taking place in 2007. The unnamed tomb (Grave no. 559) is located adjacent to the southern wall of the church and is rectangular in profile with rubble stone walls. There are 189 inscribed headstones and plots within the graveyard and most of these are in good condition. The majority of the graves date to the 20th century, however there are more recent graves from the 21 century eg. Grave no. 013 from 2007 and Grave no. 560 from 2009. There are also three children's graves that are located in the east part of the graveyard overlooking Darrynane bay (Grave no's: 503, 504 and 506). There are 22 unnamed or illegible headstones and plots at Abbey Island. The majority of these are wrought iron or wooden crosses, but there are also heavily eroded stone crosses. The vast majority of graves at Abbey Island are plain unnamed gravemarkers; 351 in total were recorded, however due to tall grass and excessive overgrowth in some areas, especially to the south, some may have been overlooked' (Frykler and Hanbidge 2009, 5-10). See attached