Grave Yard — Bayswell

On the summit of a N-S ridge overlooking lower land to the E and W, in rolling pasture. A rectangular graveyard (dims. 26.5m N-S; L of N wall 28.9m; L of S wall 21m) with a church (KK008-066001-) aligned E-W in the NW angle of the graveyard. The graveyard wall runs up to the N end of the E gable and the W end of the S wall. According to the OS Letters (1839) the church is known as 'Teampall na Ratha' or the church of the rath, probably in reference to the ringfort (KK008-142----) 30m N of the church (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 116-17 (39)). At time of inspection in 1987 the graveyard was heavily overgrown with vegetation. On the 1st (1839) 6-inch OS map the graveyard is delineated by a dashed line, which suggests that the boundary wall had not been built. It was noted during the field inspection that the remains of an earthen bank (Wth 2m; H c. 0.5m) continues westward on the line of the S wall for 14m before turning at right angles northward (Wth 2m; H 0.2-0.3m) for c. 53m and similarly on the N side, an earthen bank (Wth 2m; H 0.2m) runs for 21m N of the N graveyard wall. Moore (1874-9, vol. 1, 38) mentions that in, 'the graveyard of Rath - now not much used - are two fragments of a Baptismal font [KK008-006003-]', also within the graveyard Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 300-302) describes, 'three o[r] four inscribed monuments of late date' as well as a graveslab (KK008-006004-), none of which were visible at time of inspection. Carrigan (ibid.) also mentions that, 'Within the churchyard wall there is also a great leacht [KK008-066005-] or monumental heap of loose stones, but tradition is silent as to its origin'. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 24 October 2017