Grave Yd. — Monasterredan

The graveyard is indicated on the 1838 OS 6-inch map as polygonal in plan while on the 1914 OS 6-inch map it is indicated as oval in plan. The remains consist of an oval area (76.4m E-W; 68.7m N-S) enclosed by a mortared stone wall (Wth 0.45m; H 1m). There is an arched gateway at SE, above which is a date plaque inscribed '1883'. The headstones are mostly 20th century in date and are accessed by concrete paths. Scattered amongst them are several small uninscribed grave-markers, mostly rectangular though a few are roughly cross-shaped. A graveslab (SL046-014007-) with a simple incised cross on it, which was within the interior, cannot be located. A low stone-built seat (1.5m N-S; 1.26m E-W; H 0.45m), in an area of rough uneven ground close to the enclosing wall at WSW, marks the location of a corn-drying kiln (SL046-014008-), which was found here during a graveyard clean-up in 1985-6. The N half of the interior is level with the external ground level while the S half is raised c. 0.6m above it. The exact location of the site of the church (SL046-014001-) is unknown though the most likely location is the central area, surrounded by a path, where few graves occur (pers. comm. J. Enright). There is a souterrain (SL046-014004-) in the NW quadrant and a bullaun stone (SL046-014005-) outside the enclosing wall at NNE. A quernstone (SL046-014006-) was also found in the graveyard. In 1836 this graveyard was recorded as 'a burial ground for children, strangers and poor people' (OSL, 235) and was then only in occasional use (OSNB vol. 1, 414). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008