12. The Curraghaun Heritage Site, Windfield Demesne.

Curraghaun Heritage Site, Windfield Demesne.

Extract from the History of Moylough-Mountbellew, page 146, by John A.Claffey, M.A.,Ph.D.

Co-ordinates:2354@. National Grid: M583439.

Situated on grazing land in a slight depression this cilleachán or burial ground is irregularly shaped and somewhat obscured by trees and bushes. It measures approximately 16 metres on its N/S axis. It contains a scatter of loose stones ocrasionally set erect. Some of the erect stones may mark burials. In the west of this atea a comparatively large upright slab measures 95 cm in height, 45 cm at its widest and c. 12 cm in thickness. Its west face is rough and undecorated. The top section of the east face appears to have the upper arm of a cross in relief, possibly an attempt at carving which failed, although it may be that the seemingly cut-away portion of the stone is the result of fortuitous shattering of the surface.

To the east of the cilleachán there is a rectangular enclosure with a dividing wall which is clearly visible and measures 5.50 metres in length. There is a concentration of graves on each side of the dividing wall. South of the wall two undecorated pillar stones, 80 cm and 70 cm high respectively, are placed side by side and stand in an area of stone settings which possibly are grave markings. North of the wall there are several other settings of stone nearly all of which are defined by little upright pillars. Imnrediately to the east of the main burial area there is a large horse-shoe shaped depression which may be the result of quarrying. A smaller depression lies south-east of the main burial area. Situated between these two depressions is the nineteenth-century Jameson burial plot.

Curraghaun was once a very extensive site. Farther to the south-east of the smaller depression mentioned above there are rectangular stone enclosuresat least three-which seem to be the ramains of buildings. One of these measures 13 metres internally on a N/S axis and 6.80 metres E/W. Some 62 metres due south from the burial area a bank, possibly the outside enclosure of a monastic site, is clearly visible.