County: Carlow Site name: Rathmore, Co. Carlow
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR CW003-021CW003-02100 Licence number: —
Author: —
Site type: MEDIEVAL AND POST-MEDIEVAL GRAVES
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 685520m, N 678899m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.854217, -6.730194
In November 1979 human remains were discovered during ploughing at a church site at Rathmore, near Tullow, Co. Carlow.32 The site was being ploughed for the first time and, as there were no features visible above ground, the landowner was not aware of the presence of a burial ground until the human remains were exposed. The site was located at the southeastern edge of a level area, and the ground sloped steeply towards the south-east. A tumulus measuring 17m in diameter by 5m high was visible 60m to the north-west. This may be associated with the church site or castle site in this townland (Brindley and Kilfeather 1993, 9). This had not been disturbed, although the ground around it had been ploughed. The area where the bones were exposed measured 22m north-east/south-west and 10m northwest/south-east. The soil in the area contained more gravel than that of the surrounding field, and there were patches of almost pure gravel. There were no traces of masonry stones or mortar and no indication of a rectangular structure. The only object found was a fragment of a granite rotary quern measuring 0.15m by 0.21m by 0.06m thick, but this could not be associated directly with the burials. Although it is not possible to be certain, the burials may be medieval in date. The presence of a church33 is noted in the Archaeological inventory of County Carlow (Brindley and Kilfeather 1993, 70), and a stone cross base found in the vicinity is thought to have possibly been associated with this site. A graveyard,34 an unclassifiable castle and a barrow are also noted in this townland. All, with the exception of the unlocated castle, are in the same field.
32. Parish of Rathmore, barony of Rathvilly. SMR CW003-021. IGR 28559 17885. Very little is known about the origin of this site. Brindley and Kilfeather’s medieval date for the site is based on the fact that there is no structural or documentary evidence to place the site in the pre-Norman period, and a broad medieval date is also assumed here.
33. CW003-02100—. IGR 285589 178861
34. CW003-021002-. IGR 285589 178861.
