although he is now buried in dublin, murlough bay was the burial place of choice of roger casement, a former british government diplomat, knighted by king george v in 1911 and irish nationalist revolutionary leader who was executed by the government of the united kingdom for treason in august 1916 during world war one. while waiting execution in pentonville prison he sent a letter to his cousin gertrude bannister in which he wrote "take my body back with you and let it lie in the old churchyard in murlough bay." roger casement was a frequent visitor to ballycastle, he stayed with relatives there and found a close affinity to the beauty and wildness of the location. the plinth is what remains of a more recent cross which was erected on the site to commemorate sir roger casement.