cillíní

A cillín, plural cillíní, refers to a small, often unconsecrated burial ground traditionally found in Ireland. These were typically used for the burial of specific groups who were not permitted to be interred in the local parish churchyard. The most common groups buried in cillíní were unbaptized infants, marginalized individuals such as beggars or travelers, and sometimes excommunicated persons or those who died by suicide. The name "cillín" itself derives from the Irish word "cill," meaning church, and the diminutive suffix "-ín," suggesting a small church or, by extension, a small burial place.

The practice of using cillíní likely emerged from a combination of religious and social customs. In some instances, the unbaptized status of infants meant they could not be buried in consecrated ground. Social stigma also played a significant role, with those deemed outside the accepted community often relegated to these separate burial sites. These grounds were frequently located away from established churches, sometimes on the periphery of a parish or in more remote areas. While not always officially recognized by the Church, their existence persisted for centuries, reflecting the complex social and religious attitudes of the time. Today, many cillíní are still identifiable by mounds of earth, simple stone markers, or faint outlines of enclosures.