Down by the Glen of Aherlow in Tipperary is a mysterious and delightful hidden place. A quiet and secluded area known as Saint Berriherts Kyle.
Gathered together here in one place are over 60 carved stone crosses consisting of a multitude of cross varieties including some fragments from High crosses, a Bullaun stone and a Swearing/Cursing stone and some type of Font/Bullaun. Little is known of the collection or where it was gathered from.
The site is described as an "ecclesiastical enclosure" however the surrounding walls were only constructed in the 1940's, presumably to protect the precious carved stones at the site.
As for Saint Berrihert himself, little is also know of him other than he came to Ireland after the Synod of Whitby in 664 and was probably of Anglo Saxon origin. There are several other suggested alternatives for his name.
It is a difficult place to find and there are no signs to the site or the area and two fields must be crossed to access the enclosure but they were fairly dry when I was there and easy to traverse on foot.
Across from the enclosure and quite close is Saint Berriherts Well which is more like a small pond. The water here is crystal clear and is bubbling up from the ground beneath.
There are small deposits of limestone grain surrounding the areas at the bottom of the pond which suggested it was very pure water indeed so I drank some directly from the well.... No bad after affects to report so I don't think you'll find purer water anywhere.
It's suggested that a circular row of small stones around the site is the boundary marker of a Cíllin, a children's burial ground. It times gone by and among others, stillborn and unbaptized children were not allowed to be buried in consecrated ground.
There are probably several thousand Cillíns (Cilliní) dotted throughout Ireland and no doubt other countries have their own version of a Cillín. Many of them are recorded while some are forgotten and have since been rediscovered. The children would sometimes be buried in the Cillín under the cover of darkness. Thankfully times have changed.
Sometimes the Cillín would be located near to a graveyard so that those interred could be close to the consecrated ground nearby but they also seem to occur in remote locations of a religious significance. One discovered recently nearby was on an ancient Rath.
Such places have been continually visited over generations not only in acts of remembrance but also because the tradition of burial on unconsecrated ground continued until quite recently. Others have long since been forgotten, perhaps to be unearthed by future generations.
There are probably several thousand Cillíns (Cilliní) dotted throughout Ireland and no doubt other countries have their own version of a Cillín. Many of them are recorded while some are forgotten and have since been rediscovered. The children would sometimes be buried in the Cillín under the cover of darkness. Thankfully times have changed.
Sometimes the Cillín would be located near to a graveyard so that those interred could be close to the consecrated ground nearby but they also seem to occur in remote locations of a religious significance. One discovered recently nearby was on an ancient Rath.
Such places have been continually visited over generations not only in acts of remembrance but also because the tradition of burial on unconsecrated ground continued until quite recently. Others have long since been forgotten, perhaps to be unearthed by future generations.
Some of the crosses outside the walled enclosure are standing upright on small cairns of rocks. These I believe are markers for the stations of the cross.
At the Synod of Whitby as well as ecclesiastical matters of difference being discussed the big difference was over the dating of Easter. It seems that Berrihert left for Ireland sometime after the Synod. Early Irish christian monks had settled in Scotland and northern England and founded several important monasteries so it is no surprise to note the many Saxon connections to Ireland.
Unfortunately because of Ireland's long and troubled history of continual war and rebellion with it's immediate neighbour and suppressor for over 800 years, in the years preceding Ireland's independence from the United Kingdom the nation struggled for a separate identity removed in its totality from any British influence.
It did this by reinventing itself as completely of Celtic origin, a slight deviation from the reality of the multitude of influences and influx from many areas throughout Europe.
It is precisely in this light that at the present time little is well known or spoken of our Anglo Saxon connections and history.
It is precisely in this light that at the present time little is well known or spoken of our Anglo Saxon connections and history.
Saint Berriherts and a few other sites dotted throughout Ireland provide that connection and an important historical link.
The Glen of Aherlow is an area of outstanding natural beauty with many places to visit and a wealth of natural beauty. A lot of areas "off the beaten track" have few visitors and very few tourists venture down the small boreens. As such if you like quiet and peaceful places you'll find a lot of them here.
It's difficult to find Saint Berriherts but that makes it all the more special. I came from the main Cork road (heading southbound) turning off at Cahir onto the N24 followed by a left turn onto the L3102. Seeing a tiny sign for the "Golden Mile Winner 2003" at a crossroads I turned left again and it was a few hundred metres up the road. That sign may well be long gone at some stage.
Below are the google coordinates to the crossroads where I finally turned left for Saint Berriherts :
52°24'44.7"N 8°04'43.7"W
52.412421, -8.078817