Clare Cillíní survey to be launched as part of Clare Heritage Week

Michael Houlihan, Quin Heritage Group, said, “There are the remains of 144 cillíns in county Clare, a remarkable number when compared with most counties. Cillíns have had a long and rather sad history since the 17th century and consequently are not well known. They continued functioning to a lesser degree until the mid-20th century. They are very much part of the folk memory and social history of Clare and other counties.”

Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council, added, “The purpose of this project is to raise awareness of the 144 cillíns found across County Clare, while remembering the souls of the many children buried within them. It is hoped that by bringing attention to these sites, local communities will reconnect with their local cillíns. Clare County Council is delighted to be able to publish the information collected by Michael Houlihan during the Clare Cillín survey. We hope to continue to develop this research on the cillíns in Clare and we would welcome the public’s feedback on any aspect of the survey.”

There are 144 identified cillíns or communal unbaptised children’s burial grounds in County Clare. A review by Michael Houlihan was made of all the Clare cillíns, who visited, photographed, and described each site. Most cillíns originated during the Counter Reformation in the 17th century, with some continuing to be used in living memory until the mid-1960s.

Michael Houlihan will outline how he went about the cillíns survey, their origin, function and chosen location, the cultural practices associated with the cillíns, the people he met, their personal stories and the wealth of information that was uncovered during the survey. While many of the cillíns are remembered and maintained by the local community, with memorials placed at the sites and annual mass celebrated, some cillíns are fading from memory and in danger of being forgotten. This survey helps to record, locate and remember the unbaptised infants and others buried in the cillíns throughout County Clare.

On the night, Annie Birney will outline how the public can access the information on the Clare Heritage website. All are welcome to take part on August 21 and to hear more about the Clare cillíns.

Please check https://www.heritageweek.ie/ for details of this event and for further details of the 100 or more events taking place in Clare during Heritage Week, which runs from the August 16 to 24.

The Clare Cillíní survey project was funded by Clare County Council’s Creative Ireland fund with the objective of granting aid to community projects of value to the county.

Page last reviewed: 14/08/25

Content managed by: Corporate Services Department

Back to top