A cillín (plural cillíní) is a historic burial site in Ireland, primarily used for stillborn and unbaptized infants. These burial areas were also used for the recently deceased who were not allowed in consecrated churchyards, including the mentally disabled, suicides, beggars, executed criminals, and shipwreck victims.
The Irish word cillín is defined as a small church or "cell" as in prison cell or monastic cell. In Ireland, a cillín can also be called a caldragh, calluragh, cealltrach, ceallúrach and lisín, depending upon the location of the site within Ireland. English versions of cillíns include: cill burial grounds, kyle burial grounds, killeens and children's burial grounds.[1]
The types of locations used for these unconsecrated grounds include: abandoned graveyards and churches, castle ruins, ancient earthenworks and megalithic cairns. The name cillín is used primarily in Ulster.[2] As of 2013, there were approximately 1,440 known children's burial grounds in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, including 500 sites listed in County Galway and 250 sites in County Kerry.[1][3]
Historyedit
In the early Christian Church, the baptism of a newborn baby was of primary importance. In some regions, but not all regions, the Catholic Church prohibited the burial of unbaptized babies in consecrated graveyards.[4][5] It is not known when people began to use separate burial grounds in Ireland. There is no historical evidence that supports the use of alternative burial grounds during the early medieval period. The earliest historical reference to the use of cilliní in Ireland was in 1619. It has been theorized that cilliní were established during this time period as a result of strict reforms implemented by the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation regarding unbaptized infants, and continued to be used until the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.[2][3]
Sixteen cilliní were excavated in Ireland from 1966 to 2004. The findings from the excavations revealed that these sites dated from the mid-1500s to mid 1800s.[3] Historical evidence has shown that cilliní were carefully selected. Areas with a previous religious function were often used because of the idea of the sacred nature of the site. A characteristic of many cilliní burials were the placement of white quartz pebbles along with other stone pebbles on the child's grave. Quartz had been used in monastic burials in Great Britain, and may have held a special significance for honoring or cherishing the dead.[3] There is historical evidence that cilliní burials were a respectful process. Graves were often surrounded by stones to mark their outline. Some children were carefully placed during burial, either lying on their back or their sides. In some locations, there were coffin burials or graves lined with stones.[3][2]
The study of 19th century maps, local histories, and interviews with community elders have helped preserve the location of many cillíni, but as people moved away from small towns, many of these sites were lost. In the 19th century, many of the burial sites were destroyed and converted to farmland. Legislation enacted in Ireland in the mid-1800s's had a profound impact on cilliní burials. The 1863 Act for the Registration of Births and Deaths in Ireland, obligated parents to register the birth and death of their children. There would be no more hidden burials without the penalty of a fine. Priests were also undergoing change by the late 1800s. There are examples of new arrangements being made at the end of cemeteries to accommodate the burial of unbaptized children.[1]
Cilliní are now recognized as a class of archaeological monument. They have attracted the attention of archaeologists and historians, and have been the subject of study and archaeological excavations throughout Ireland.[2] There has also been recent interest in the depiction of such sites in Irish literary texts such as Tom Murphy's play Bailegangaire and Mary Leland's novel The Killeen (both from 1985).[6] Today, many towns and villages in Ireland are recovering human remains from cilliní and moving these once excluded individuals to consecrated churchyards. Other sites remain intact, and have been consecrated by special religious ceremonies.[7] In August 2014, at St. Patrick's Church in Cushendun, a religious ceremony led by the parish priest and attended by many in the community, celebrated the reburial of 19 children's skeletons. The children's remains were discovered during an archeological excavation at Castle Carra, near Cushendun.[1]
List of selected cillín sitesedit
Cillín in County Wicklow. Many cillíní have received markers in recent years.
^ abcdDonnelly, Colm J.; Murphy, Eileen M. (2018). "Chapter 33: Children's Burial Grounds (Cillíni) in Ireland". In Crawford, Sally; Hadley, Dawn M.; Shepherd, Gillian (eds.). The Archaeology of Childhood. Oxford University Press. pp. 608–628. ISBN978-0199670697.
^ abcdefghDonnelly, Seamus; Donnelly, Colm; Murphy, Eileen (1999). "The Forgotten Dead: The Cellini and Disused Burial Grounds of Ballintoy, County Antrim". Journal of Ulster Archaeology. 59: 109–113. JSTOR 20568233.
^ abcdeMurphy, Eileen M. (2011). "Children's Burial Grounds in Ireland (Cilliní) and Parental Emotions Toward Infant Death". International Journal of Historical Archaeology. 15 (3): 409–428. doi:10.1007/s10761-011-0148-8. S2CID 162381136.
^Barbara, Hausmair (2017). "Topographies of the afterlife. Reconsidering infant burials in medieval mortuary space". Journal of Social Archaeology.
^Crow, Madison; Zori, Colleen; Zori, Davide (17 December 2020). "Doctrinal and Physical Marginality in Christian Death: The Burial of Unbaptized Infants in Medieval Italy." Religions. 11 (12): 2. doi:10.3390/rel11120678.
^Mary Burke. “Tuam Babies and Kerry Babies: Clandestine Pregnancies and Child Burial Sites in Tom Murphy’s Drama and Mary Leland’s The Killeen.” Irish University Review 49.2 (2019): 245-61.
^Dixon, Carl (14 August 2012). "Cradle to the Grave". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
^"Google Maps Location". Google Maps. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
^Siggins, Lorna. "Böll's artist son revisits sites where Achill's unbaptised buried". Irish Times. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
April 12, 2024
cillín, cillín, plural, cillíní, historic, burial, site, ireland, primarily, used, stillborn, unbaptized, infants, these, burial, areas, were, also, used, recently, deceased, were, allowed, consecrated, churchyards, including, mentally, disabled, suicides, beg. A cillin plural cillini is a historic burial site in Ireland primarily used for stillborn and unbaptized infants These burial areas were also used for the recently deceased who were not allowed in consecrated churchyards including the mentally disabled suicides beggars executed criminals and shipwreck victims Cillin Phadraig at Maumeen near Maam Cross Contents 1 Definition and alternative names 2 History 3 List of selected cillin sites 4 See also 5 ReferencesDefinition and alternative names editThe Irish word cillin is defined as a small church or cell as in prison cell or monastic cell In Ireland a cillin can also be called a caldragh calluragh cealltrach ceallurach and lisin depending upon the location of the site within Ireland English versions of cillins include cill burial grounds kyle burial grounds killeens and children s burial grounds 1 nbsp Cillin on Inishmicatreer Lough CorribThe types of locations used for these unconsecrated grounds include abandoned graveyards and churches castle ruins ancient earthenworks and megalithic cairns The name cillin is used primarily in Ulster 2 As of 2013 there were approximately 1 440 known children s burial grounds in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland including 500 sites listed in County Galway and 250 sites in County Kerry 1 3 History editIn the early Christian Church the baptism of a newborn baby was of primary importance In some regions but not all regions the Catholic Church prohibited the burial of unbaptized babies in consecrated graveyards 4 5 It is not known when people began to use separate burial grounds in Ireland There is no historical evidence that supports the use of alternative burial grounds during the early medieval period The earliest historical reference to the use of cillini in Ireland was in 1619 It has been theorized that cillini were established during this time period as a result of strict reforms implemented by the Catholic Church during the Counter Reformation regarding unbaptized infants and continued to be used until the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s 2 3 nbsp Cillin near Bealandangan GalwaySixteen cillini were excavated in Ireland from 1966 to 2004 The findings from the excavations revealed that these sites dated from the mid 1500s to mid 1800s 3 Historical evidence has shown that cillini were carefully selected Areas with a previous religious function were often used because of the idea of the sacred nature of the site A characteristic of many cillini burials were the placement of white quartz pebbles along with other stone pebbles on the child s grave Quartz had been used in monastic burials in Great Britain and may have held a special significance for honoring or cherishing the dead 3 There is historical evidence that cillini burials were a respectful process Graves were often surrounded by stones to mark their outline Some children were carefully placed during burial either lying on their back or their sides In some locations there were coffin burials or graves lined with stones 3 2 The study of 19th century maps local histories and interviews with community elders have helped preserve the location of many cillini but as people moved away from small towns many of these sites were lost In the 19th century many of the burial sites were destroyed and converted to farmland Legislation enacted in Ireland in the mid 1800s s had a profound impact on cillini burials The 1863 Act for the Registration of Births and Deaths in Ireland obligated parents to register the birth and death of their children There would be no more hidden burials without the penalty of a fine Priests were also undergoing change by the late 1800s There are examples of new arrangements being made at the end of cemeteries to accommodate the burial of unbaptized children 1 Cillini are now recognized as a class of archaeological monument They have attracted the attention of archaeologists and historians and have been the subject of study and archaeological excavations throughout Ireland 2 There has also been recent interest in the depiction of such sites in Irish literary texts such as Tom Murphy s play Bailegangaire and Mary Leland s novel The Killeen both from 1985 6 Today many towns and villages in Ireland are recovering human remains from cillini and moving these once excluded individuals to consecrated churchyards Other sites remain intact and have been consecrated by special religious ceremonies 7 In August 2014 at St Patrick s Church in Cushendun a religious ceremony led by the parish priest and attended by many in the community celebrated the reburial of 19 children s skeletons The children s remains were discovered during an archeological excavation at Castle Carra near Cushendun 1 List of selected cillin sites edit nbsp Cillin in County Wicklow Many cillini have received markers in recent years Carnanmore Curramoney Antrim 2 Drumnascragh Ballintoy Demesne Antrim 2 Kilmacromey Araboy Antrim 2 Toberann Lismorrity Antrim 2 Caltra County Galway 8 Carrowkeel County Galway Clonberne County Galway Corcullen Moycullen County Galway Achill Island County Mayo 9 Ridds Green County WicklowSee also editEaves drip burial Baptism FuneralReferences edit a b c d Donnelly Colm J Murphy Eileen M 2018 Chapter 33 Children s Burial Grounds Cillini in Ireland In Crawford Sally Hadley Dawn M Shepherd Gillian eds The Archaeology of Childhood Oxford University Press pp 608 628 ISBN 978 0199670697 a b c d e f g h Donnelly Seamus Donnelly Colm Murphy Eileen 1999 The Forgotten Dead The Cellini and Disused Burial Grounds of Ballintoy County Antrim Journal of Ulster Archaeology 59 109 113 JSTOR 20568233 a b c d e Murphy Eileen M 2011 Children s Burial Grounds in Ireland Cillini and Parental Emotions Toward Infant Death International Journal of Historical Archaeology 15 3 409 428 doi 10 1007 s10761 011 0148 8 S2CID 162381136 Barbara Hausmair 2017 Topographies of the afterlife Reconsidering infant burials in medieval mortuary space Journal of Social Archaeology Crow Madison Zori Colleen Zori Davide 17 December 2020 Doctrinal and Physical Marginality in Christian Death The Burial of Unbaptized Infants in Medieval Italy Religions 11 12 2 doi 10 3390 rel11120678 Mary Burke Tuam Babies and Kerry Babies Clandestine Pregnancies and Child Burial Sites in Tom Murphy s Drama and Mary Leland s The Killeen Irish University Review 49 2 2019 245 61 Dixon Carl 14 August 2012 Cradle to the Grave Irish Examiner Retrieved 3 November 2018 Google Maps Location Google Maps Retrieved 9 April 2020 Siggins Lorna Boll s artist son revisits sites where Achill s unbaptised buried Irish Times Retrieved 3 November 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cillin amp oldid 1210622900, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
