Calluragh Burial Ground, Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry

Co. Kerry |

Burial Grounds

Calluragh Burial Ground, Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry

Some sites are defined by what cannot be found.

Near Caherdaniel on the Iveragh Peninsula, a burial ground was recorded by name on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map, yet no one locally has any knowledge of it, and no physical trace has been identified on the ground. The map gives the name but offers no precise location, leaving a curious gap where a place of the dead ought to be.

The explanation may lie in a cartographic error rather than a genuine mystery. A feature recorded as a 'calluragh', a type of burial ground traditionally associated with unbaptised infants or those excluded from consecrated ground, does appear on the second edition of the OS map, but positioned roughly half a kilometre to the south-south-east. It is possible the name was simply placed incorrectly on the earlier survey, drifting across the landscape on paper while the actual site sat quietly elsewhere. A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan noted this discrepancy in their archaeological survey of South Kerry, published by Cork University Press in 1996, and the matter remains unresolved. The caluragh tradition was widespread across Ireland, with such grounds often occupying marginal or liminal spots, field edges, ringfort interiors, or old boundary lines, places set apart from the parish churchyard but still carrying a quiet solemnity.

Rated 0 out of 5

Visitor Notes

Review type for post source and places source type not found
Added by
Picture of Pete F
Pete F
IrishHistory.com is passionate about helping people discover and connect with the rich stories of their local communities.
Please use the form below to submit any photos you may have of Calluragh Burial Ground, Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry. We're happy to take any suggested edits you may have too. Please be advised it will take us some time to get to these submissions. Thank you.
Name
Email
Message
Upload images/documents
Maximum file size: 100 MB
If you'd like to add an image or a PDF please do it here.

Advertisement