- Kilscohagh, Co. Mayo, Mayo

In March 1945 human remains were discovered during the construction of a fence at Kilscohagh, near Ballindine, Co. Mayo.¹⁸⁹ The works were being carried out on behalf of the Irish Land Commission on what was described as the southern part of Kilscohagh on the former Mellett estate. The remains were found at a depth of c. 0.2m below ground level in an area traditionally thought to have been the site of an old church, although there is no indication of such a site on the Ordnance Survey maps. There are no monuments recorded for this townland by the SMR. The local reference to a church might be an assumption because of the name of the townland, which may have been thought to refer to a church. The Irish form, however, is Coill Scothach—the ‘flowery wood’.¹⁹⁰ The site was reported to the NMI by the Gardaí at Ballindine and separately by the local GP, Dr George Maguire. A number of reports were received, including one from the foreman in charge of works, stating that the remains of buildings were visible on the site. According to the Gardaí, however, no ‘cist or vessel’ was found in the vicinity of the burials, and no description of the disposition of the burials was given. Later that month, a blue glass bead (1945:372) was discovered on the site, although not apparently in direct association with a burial. The bead is a small, dark blue, rounded example, similar to those found on early medieval sites such as Lagore (Hencken 1950, 134), which may indicate that the burials are of this date, although without a direct association this must remain uncertain. The site was not investigated.

189. Parish of Crossboyne, barony of Clanmorris. OS 6in. sheet 111; exact location not marked. Stated to be on the Mellett estate, two miles south-west of Ballindine village.
190. http://www.logainm.ie/?text=kilscohagh. Accessed 28.05.2009. The Placenames Commission has not yet validated this name but records that John O’Donovan translated it as ‘the flowery wood’.