The cemetery close to Iona Abbey was a royal burial ground during the 9th-11th centuries, beginning with Norsemen who buried their chieftains there. It is also reputed to be the final resting place of 48 kings of Scotland, including Duncan and Macbeth of Shakespeare’s Macbeth fame, eight Norwegian kings, four Irish princes, a king of France and numerous Highland chiefs.

The graveyard chapel is dedicated to St Oran. He was a follower of St Columba who according to legend consented to being buried alive in order to prevent the walls of the first church from falling down.