Researching and Recording the Cillíní of County Mayo

A cillín is a type of burial ground, primarily used for burying unbaptised children and stillborn infants. They were also sometimes used to bury adults excluded from burial in consecrated ground. Often nestled within older archaeological sites, such as historic graveyards, ringforts or megalithic tombs, they are also often located near natural features or along field, townland or county boundaries.

There are 228 cillíní recorded on the Record of Monuments and Places for County Mayo. Undoubtedly, many more sites exist.

Mayo County Council and the County Mayo Heritage Forum are undertaking a project to research and document cillíní in County Mayo. During Heritage Week we will be collecting stories and information on Mayo’s cillíní and we would like to hear from you.

If you know of a children’s burial ground, why not drop in and make sure if has been recorded. If it hasn’t been previously recorded we will add it to our survey.

If you would like to hear more about the project or have information you would like to share, drop into Castlebar Library (upstairs in the Local Studies Section) anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Wednesday 20th August and meet with one of the project team.