The old cemetery at Bunnacurry is situated on the eastern side of Achill Island in County Mayo. The earliest visible gravestone dates to 1873 but the wide variety of unmarked stones and cross inscribed slabs would indicate it was a burial place for many centuries before. It is known that a CillĂn is situated immediately outside the northern wall of the cemetery. CillĂnĂ were burial grounds for unbaptised infants, suicide deaths, criminals and for the burial of strangers used in Ireland over hundreds of years. The earliest mention of a CillĂn in Ireland is from 1613 and they were in use up until the 1960s. An extensive survey of Bunnacurry by the Achill Historical and Archaeological Society in 2014 recorded over 700 burials in the cemetery. The cemetery is completely overgrown but still is quite a striking and spectacular place, as is most of Achill.
GPS: 53.97401, -9.97999
Lovely old cemetery and your photos are excellent. I love old cemeteries but would prefer not to be buried in one when my time comes…
Thanjs James and re burial i tend to agree, however I would like a fantastic grave style monument so it’s tricky!
Me, just scatter my ashes on the moors somewhere – just my partner and a few close friends – and let the wind take me away 🙂
I would like mine to be scattered at either Loughcrew or Carrowkeel in Ireland. Still want a monument though.