cillín

Cillín is an Irish term referring to a small, often unmarked, burial ground, typically for unbaptized infants or stillborn children. These sites were prevalent in rural Ireland throughout history, particularly before the widespread establishment of formal church cemeteries. The practice of burying unbaptized children in separate grounds stemmed from a belief that they could not be buried in consecrated churchyards.

The locations of cillíní varied, but they were often found in isolated spots, sometimes near ancient churches or holy wells, but not within the main churchyard itself. They could be marked by simple stones, mounds of earth, or sometimes no discernible markers at all, making their identification difficult. The existence of cillíní reflects a historical aspect of Irish Christian practice and societal attitudes towards infant mortality and baptism. While the practice has largely faded with modern societal changes and attitudes towards infant burial, remnants of these sites can still be found across the Irish landscape, sometimes marked by a cluster of small, weathered stones.