Relignaman Women's Graveyard

Image: © Kenneth Allen Taken: 21 Apr 2022

The name Relignaman comes from the Irish "relig na mBan", meaning Women's Graveyard. It is a small, sub-rectangular enclosure, c.19m across, surrounded by a grass grown stony bank 1.5-2.5m wide & 0.6-0.9m high Several accounts surrounding the origin of this site as a graveyard exist in local tradition. These accounts involve a woman who had somehow incurred the wrath of St. Colmcille. According to tradition, this spot is where the saint ordered that she be buried, either out of earshot of the monastery bell or where the bell being rung in front of her funeral would cease to be heard at St Colmcille's church. This is the place Colmcille is said to have left an injunction that the cemetery should never be entered by a living woman or a dead man. Various other versions of the story can be found in Fr. Short's manuscripts. Hamlin and Foley, speculating on the origin of Reilig na mBan, remind us that special provision was sometimes made for the burial of specific groups of people, including women. One possibility, which they consider, is that this could mark the site of an early convent, located at a distance from the main establishment known as Termon Rock. The possibility of a convent at this site is supported by the fact that it was in a townland called Killeen, possibly derived from the Irish word, 'cillin' which can mean little church' and also denote a burial place primarily used for still born and unbaptised infants. Further support is provided by an Ordnance Survey map, which marks a spot at Termonmaguirc, as being one of a number of sites or supposed sites of early women' establishments. More at https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/relig-na-mban-p770001

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