Killeen Cormac lies three miles north east of Ballitore in the townland of Colbinstown, Barony of Narragh and Reban, County Kildare. The site of this old cemetery is in a valley of the most picturesque character. The river Griese flows through the valley separating the counties of Kildare and Wicklow at Killeen Cormac. In the valley there are many isolated mounds or eskers, retaining names connected with the legends and history of this area.

On the left bank of the Griese, lies a long esker called ‘Bullock Hill'. On the opposite bank, on the Kildare side, is another esker called ‘Crocbunnion'. To the west of this is another elevation, the highest of the group. On its summit is a rath of large proportions and at its base flows a small stream known as ‘Scrughan', which joins the Griese, west of Killeen. This hill is called Rathownbeg. Between this and Knockbunnion is another esker of oval shape lying on a north south axis. This is Killeen Cormac. It was enclosed with a stone wall and trees were planted around the mound. The whole enclosure is occupied with graves, and on the summit is an oblong depression, the site of an early church.

The outline or three terraces, which surround the esker, can be traced. Within this enclosure are some pillar stones with Ogham inscriptions; one of there has an incised bust of the Redeemer. Another has a well-defined Ogham inscription carried around the top and sides. Killeen Cormac was used as a pagan burial ground before the introduction of Christianity. The pillar stones, some with Ogham inscriptions are placed at intervals around the base of the tumulus, reminds me very much of the Tumuli on the Boyne and other well-known places.

On the lowest side of the mound there is another pillar stone. On its top surface there is a mark, which is supposed to represent a hound's paw. As this stone is the subject of a very curious legend it deserves mention. Local tradition, with a view perhaps to account for the name of the cemetery, tells that this stone marks the grave of Cormac, King of Munster. He was borne to this cemetery by a team of bullocks that were allowed to follow their own instincts in bearing the body of Cormac, for which rival claims were made, to this grave. Tradition states that he carried from a long distant place, from the direction of Timolin, and that when the team reached the ‘Doon' of Ballynure the bullocks were overcome with thirst. They pawed the ground from which burst forth a spring of water. This still flows by the side of the road opposite Donoghue's. The Bullocks having taken the water thus provided, traveled on util they came to ‘Bullock Hill' opposite the cemetery. At this place they stood and refused to move further.

From this it was apparent that Killeen was to be the last resting place of Cormac. The team of bullocks, having crossed the stream, left the body for burial in the cemetery. They turned for home across the marsh between the cemetery and ‘Bullock Hill'. While crossing the Griese they were swept away and lost forever.

Another version of he legend tells there was a hound on the team with the corpse, when it halted at ‘Bullock Hill' the hound jumped across the river to the cemetery and alighting to the top of the pillar stone, impressed the mark of his paw, thus indicating the precise spot where Cormac was to be laid. Killeen Cormac was used by local families as their burial ground until recent times. During the year Mass was celebrated for all this interred there and the graveyard was cleaned up.