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Transcript of radio item recorded by Brian O'Connell and Claire Byrne of Today with Claire Byrne on RTE (22 Aug 2023).

 

Claire Byrne  0:00  

Now in January of last year, an archaeologist and a historian gave their findings on whether there may be mass burials on the grounds of the former mother and baby home in Bessborough in Cork, to date the burial places of over 800 infants who died in the care of a home have not been located. One possibility raised by historian Dr.

The medieval church ruins and graveyard of Kilfinane are in the townland of Kilfinane, in the parish of Kilfinane and in the barony of Coshlea. It is located on the northeast edge of Kilfinane town, on Castle St., with Kilfinane Castle to the west. 

 

The name Kilfinane in Irish is Cill Fhionain, meaning the church of Fionain (Logainm.ie). The early English records call it Keilfinny or Keilfinane, and imply an earlier form, Coill Finghin, Finghin’s Wood (not cil or ‘church’). It's quite possible that there may have been a Drum-, Coill-, and a Cil Finghin here.

This church and graveyard are located in the townland of Ballydonoghue, in the parish of Kilflynn and in the barony of Coshlea. It is located east of Ballyorgan village and south of Kilfinane town. Keale Mountain lies to the north and the River Keale flows south-west of the site. The graveyard can be located by travelling south from Ardpatrick village on the R512. Take the first turn to the left after the turn for Ballyorgan. The site is located several hundred metres up this road on the left and is signposted.

This graveyard lies at the southern end of Galbally, a village in southeast County Limerick, on the border with County Tipperary, at the foot of the Galtee Mountains. The Aherlow River flows immediately south of the village and joins the Suir River near the town of Cahir.  Galbally graveyard is in the townland of Galbally, in the parish of Donaghmore (CHECK) and in the barony of Coshlea. The townland lies roughly halfway between the town of Mitchelstown to the south and the town of Tipperary to the north.  The graveyard is located south of Galbally village square.