Ballywiheen
Bhaile Uí Bhaoithín[1] · Raingiléis | |
 Stone church | |
  Location within Ireland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 6th century AD |
| Diocese | Ardfert and Aghadoe |
| Architecture | |
| Status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic |
| Site | |
| Location | Ballywiheen, Ballyferriter, County Kerry |
| Coordinates | 52°09′32″N 10°24′25″W / 52.158792°N 10.40702°W |
| Visible remains | church |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Ballywiheen Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Site; Cathair na gCat Cashel & Ogham Stone[2] |
| Reference no. | 221.2425 |
Ballywiheen is a medieval Christian site and National Monument located on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.[3][4][5][6]
Location
Ballywiheen is located 800 m (half a mile) south of Ballyferriter, on the south side of Croaghmarhin mountain.
History
There was an early Christian settlement here, also called Raingiléis.[7][8]
The Ogham stone was erected as a grave marker c. AD 500–550. In the 1880s it was broken open in search of gold.[9]
Excavations in 1998 turned up a stone lamp and flint scraper.[10]
Description
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Ballywiheen is surrounded by an enclosure 68 m (223 ft) in diameter. In the eastern part are the remains of an early drystone oratory. To the west are two mounds — these mark the location of two leachtaí (stone altars).
There is also a cross slab (decorated with Maltese cross),[12] grave mounds (suggestive of a calluragh burial ground).
There is also a stone cross 123 cm (four feet) in height.[13]
Cathair na gCat
The name Cathair na gCat means "the cat's stone fort" (the "cat" referred to is possibly the "tree cat", i.e. the pine marten.) This is a stone fort (cashel) located immediately south of Ballywiheen Christian site. It contains two stone huts and a possible souterrain.
The Ogham stone (dated to the early 6th century AD)[14] reads TOGITTACC MAQI SAGARET[TOS], "of Toicthech son of Sáraid."[15][16][17]
References
- ^ "Bhaile Uí Bhaoithín/Ballywiheen". Logainm.ie.
- ^ https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-kerry.pdf
- ^ Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of (21 April 1898). "Journal" – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". The Society. 21 April 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Macalister, Robert Alexander Stewart (21 April 2018). "Studies in Irish Epigraphy: The Ogham inscriptions of the counties of Kerry (not included in part I), Limerick, Cavan, and King's". D. Nutt – via Google Books.
- ^ King, Jeremiah (21 April 1986). "County Kerry past and present: a handbook to the local and family history of the county". Mercier Press – via Google Books.
- ^ GoKerry.ie. "An Raingiléis - Monastic site in Baile Bhoithín - Go Kerry". www.gokerry.ie.
- ^ Macalister, R. A. S. (21 April 1898). "Ballywiheen Church, Ballyneanig, Co. Kerry". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 8 (1): 15–20. JSTOR 25508468.
- ^ "Ogham in 3D - Ballywiheen / 172. Ballywiheen". ogham.celt.dias.ie.
- ^ https://www.excavations.ie/report/1998/Kerry/0003443/
- ^ http://www.westkerrymuseum.com/bearla/earlymedgal.html
- ^ "Ballyviheen". www.corcadhuibhne3d.ie.
- ^ "Ballywiheen, County Kerry". www.earlychristianireland.net.
- ^ "CISP - Site: Ballywiheen". www.ucl.ac.uk.
- ^ Macalister, Robert Alexander Stewart (21 April 2018). "Corpus inscriptionum insularum celticarum". Four Courts Press – via Google Books.
- ^ Macalister, Robert Alexander Stewart (21 April 1897). "Studies in Irish Epigraphy: Ogham inscriptions of the barony of Corkaguiney, and the counties of Mayo, Wicklow, and Kildare". D. Nutt – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ogham in 3D - Ballywiheen / 172. Ballywiheen". ogham.celt.dias.ie.