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Killeen Cormac, aka Cell Fine Chormaic (Church of the Kindred of Cormac), is an early ecclesiastical site [1] in County Kildare, Ireland. 53°01′42″N6°45′38″W / 53.028422°N 6.760689°W
The name comes from the legend described below. An earlier name, capella de Gris ("Gris Chapel"), quoted in the Crede Mihi, an ancient register of the Archbishops of Dublin, gave its name to the passing river.
The River Greese or Griese, a tributary of the Barrow, separates the counties of Kildare and Wicklow. On the left bank of the Griese, lies a long esker called ‘Bullock Hill'. On the other bank, the Kildare side, is another esker called ‘Crocbunnion'. To the west of this there is the highest elevation, of the group, Rathownbeg. On its summit is a ráth of large proportions, and at its base flows a small stream known as ‘Scrughan', which joins the Griese. Between this hill and Knockbunnion is another esker of oval shape lying on a north–south axis, which is where Killeen Cormac is located.
Killeen Cormac was used as a pagan burial ground before the introduction of Christianity. The area is enclosed within a stone wall, with trees planted around the tumulus. There are three terraces, which surround the esker. Within this enclosure are pillar stones, placed at regular spaces around the base of the tumulus ; one of the pillar stones has an incised bust of the Redeemer. Some of the pillars have Ogham inscriptions. [2] These Ogham inscriptions are reminiscent of the tumuli on the Boyne.[ citation needed ] The whole enclosure is occupied with graves, and on the summit is an oblong depression, the site of an early church.
Killeen Cormac was used by local families as their burial ground until recently, with Mass celebrated from time to time for those interred there, and the graveyard cleaned up.
The site is believed to be identical with the 'Cell Fine' where, according to the Vita tripartita, Palladius left his books, together with a writing tablet and relics of Peter and Paul.[ citation needed ]
On the lowest side of the tumulus there is another pillar stone. On its top surface there is a mark, which represents a hound's paw.
This stone is the subject of local legends. Local tradition, with a view perhaps to account for the name of the cemetery, tells that this stone marks the grave of Cormac, King of Munster. He was borne to this cemetery by a team of bullocks that were allowed to follow their own instincts in bearing the body of Cormac, for which rival claims were made, to this grave. Tradition states that he was carried from a long distant place, from the direction of Timolin, and that when the team reached the ‘Doon' of Ballynure the bullocks were overcome with thirst. They pawed the ground, from which emerged water. This still flows by the side of the road opposite Donoghue's. The bullocks after drinking the water, travelled on until they reached Bullock Hill opposite to the cemetery. At this place they refused to move further. From this it was apparent to them that Killeen was to be the last resting place for Cormac. The team of bullocks, having crossed the stream, left the body for burial in the cemetery. They travelled back across the marsh between the cemetery and Bullock Hill. While crossing the Griese they were swept away and lost. [3] Another version of the legend suggests that there was a hound on the team with the corpse; when it halted at Bullock Hill, the hound jumped across the river to the cemetery and, alighting to the top of the pillar stone, impressed the mark of his paw, thus indicating the precise spot where Cormac was to be laid.[ citation needed ]
There are said to be seven bishops, seven presbyters, and seven virgins buried at Killeen Cormac. [4]
A passage grave or passage tomb consists of one or more burial chambers covered in earth or stone and having a narrow access passage made of large stones. These structures usually date from the Neolithic Age and are found largely in Western Europe. When covered in earth, a passage grave is a type of burial mound which are found in various forms all over the world. When a passage grave is covered in stone, it is a type of cairn.
The Hill of Tara is a hill and ancient ceremonial and burial site near Skryne in County Meath, Ireland. Tradition identifies the hill as the inauguration place and seat of the High Kings of Ireland; it also appears in Irish mythology. Tara consists of numerous monuments and earthworks—dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age—including a passage tomb, burial mounds, round enclosures, a standing stone, and a ceremonial avenue. There is also a church and graveyard on the hill. Tara forms part of a larger ancient landscape and Tara itself is a protected national monument under the care of the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Irish Government.
Rathcroghan is a complex of archaeological sites near Tulsk in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is identified as the site of Cruachan, the traditional capital of the Connachta, the prehistoric and early historic rulers of the western territory. The Rathcroghan Complex is a unique archaeological landscape with many references found in early Irish medieval manuscripts.
Ogham is an Early Medieval alphabet used primarily to write the early Irish language, and later the Old Irish language. There are roughly 400 surviving orthodox inscriptions on stone monuments throughout Ireland and western Britain, the bulk of which are in southern Munster. The largest number outside Ireland are in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Sculptured stones is a name applied to carved stone monuments from the early Christian period excavated in various parts of the British Isles and Scandinavia. They document the conversion of these areas to Christianity.
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A cillín is a historic burial site in Ireland, primarily used for stillborn and unbaptized infants. These burial areas were also used for the recently deceased who were not allowed in consecrated churchyards, including the mentally disabled, suicides, beggars, executed criminals, and shipwreck victims.
Tibradden Mountain is a mountain in County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Other former names for the mountain include "Garrycastle" and "Kilmainham Begg". It is 467 metres high and is the 561st-highest mountain in Ireland. It forms part of the group of hills in the Dublin Mountains which comprises Two Rock, Three Rock, Kilmashogue and Tibradden Mountains. The views from the summit encompass Dublin to the north, Two Rock to the east and the Wicklow Mountains to the south and west.
Two Rock is a mountain in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. It is 536 metres high and is the 382nd highest mountain in Ireland. It is the highest point of the group of hills in the Dublin Mountains which comprises Two Rock, Three Rock, Kilmashogue and Tibradden Mountains. The mountain takes its name from the two granite tors that lie to the south-east of the summit. From the summit, which is called Fairy Castle, there are views of much of the Dublin area from Tallaght to Howth to the north while Bray Head, Killiney Hill, the Great Sugar Loaf and the Wicklow Mountains are visible to the south. The summit area is mostly shallow bog while ferns and gorse cover the lower slopes. The mountain is also an important habitat for red grouse.
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Kilbride, or Manor Kilbride, is a village, civil parish and electoral division in County Wicklow, Ireland, located at the western edge of the Wicklow Mountains in the barony of Talbotstown Lower.
The Silchester Ogham stone is a pillar stone discovered at the Roman town on Calleva Atrebatum in Silchester, Hampshire during excavations in 1893. Thus far it remains the only one of its kind found in England, and the only ogham inscription in England east of Cornwall and Devon. The stone is held in a storage facility of Reading Museum in Reading, Berkshire.
The River Greese is a small, fast-flowing river in south-east, Ireland, and a tributary of the River Barrow.
Ballintaggart Ogham Stones is a collection of ogham stones forming a National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland.
Ratass Church is a medieval church with ogham stone inscriptions in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. It is a National Monument.
The Tullygarran ogham stones are a pair of ogham stones forming a National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland.
Kilcoolaght East Ogham Stones are a collection of ogham stones forming a National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland.
Ballywiheen is a medieval Christian site and National Monument located on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.
Dubhán was a priest and possibly a bishop. He was of the Lagenians and brother of Damán, of Cluain Foda, in Fíodh-mór. Dubhán was of the Dál Cormaic, and also brother to St. Abbán moccu Corbmaic.
Knock y Doonee is a significant historical and archaeological site in the parish of Andreas on the northern coast of the Isle of Man. The site has been in ritual use for centuries. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a Christian keeill with a bilingual ogham stone and a Christian carved stone cross; and on a nearby hilltop a Viking Age boat burial.
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