Sheepstown Graveyard, Parish of Aghavillar, county Kilkenny

This is a small walled graveyard surrounding an old Celtic church in total ruins.

 You will see the sign for the graveyard on the left after leaving Knocktopher village in the direction of Hugginstown , and crossing over a roundabout that will take you onto the new motorway to Cork.  According to Carrigan, the date of the ruin is uncertain but it supposed to be earlier than the ruined church at Kilkeasy and Kilkeasy dates to before the Norman invasion of 1172.  The patron saint of  the church at Sheepstown is St Muicin of Maiglin, a Bishop, whose festival used to be celebrated here on the 4th March.  Before the Reformation Sheepstown church belonged to the Priory of Kells.  Sheepstown Castle was occupied here by the Rothe family in the 17th century and subsequently by the Catholic Shees until about 1770.  The Castle was later demolished by a subsequent owner named Kelly.   The burial place of the Catholic Shee family is not here at Sheepstown but at nearby Derrynahinch  (see our posting on 23rd Feb 2016 of Derrynahinch Graveyard, Parish of Ballyhale  for details of the Shee internments).

This very small graveyard is beautifully maintained.  Family lore of the Barron family who own the farm and land where the church is situated and whose family has been here from the 19th century states quite invincibly that the small field from the road to the old graveyard was used as a famine graveyard in the 1840s during the Great Famine.  For this reason this piece of land has never been ploughed, nor cattle allowed to churn up the soil.  

 A beautifully written book by the BBC War Correspondent, Fergal Keane, called Wounds (William Collins 2017), describes how in his native Kerry, at Teampallin Ban on the edge of Listowel, under whose thick summer grass lay the bones of the Famine dead, he was told by his father that this was hungry grass.  He was told  "walk on the graves and you would always be hungry".   Here in Sheepstown is a related family tradition and a continued respect for the unnamed Famine dead.  Sadly they are always with us.

There are only 7 memorials here. These are:-
1. Large Celtic Cross decorated with bunches of grapes and with crown of thorns in the centre..  Erected by Mary Barron, Sheepstown in loving memory of her husband John Barron 10th January 1954, Marian Year, aged 60 years.  His brother Walter died 2nd Feb 1973 aged 73. The above Mary Barron died 26th Oct 1985 aged 92. RIP.
2. This is a large plot.  In Memory of Bob and Lizzie Boyle, Maggie Hughes, Willie and Nick Kinahan. And their parents. Eileen Kinahan nee Fitzgerald wife of the above Willie died 18th Feb 2007 aged 85 yrs.  RIP.
3. In loving memory of William Voss born 19th Jan 1920, died 11th April 1980.  His brother Michael born 9th February 1916 died 30th Dec 1984.  Michael's son Patrick Joseph born 7th July 1965 died 12th November 1985. Michael's wife Nora born 23rd April 1935 died 27th June 1999. RIP. VOSS.
4.This is an upright headstone in a kerbed plot.  In loving memory of Catherine Cuddihy, Croan died 18th Nov 1948. James Cuddihy died 7th Nov 1959. Ann Cuddihy died 5th Jan 1962. Peter Cuddihy died 6th Jan 1979, James O'Shea died 31st July 1979. His wife Jospehine O'Shea nee Cuddihy died 10th May 2008.
5. Old stone with IHS and Gloria scroll.   Erected by Laurence Lee of Newmarket in memory of his father John Lee who depd this life Febry 7th 1801 aged 90 years.  Also his daughter Mary who died Decr 21st 1805 aged 18 years. Edmond Lee died Jan 24th 1896 aged 86 years.  His wife Ellen Lee nee Funcheon died April 22nd 1911 aged 88 years. Also their son John Lee who died March 22nd 1928 aged 70 years. May their Souls Rest in Peace Amen
6. God be merciful to the Soul of Bridget Purcell alias Dullahanty who depd this life the 25th April 1796 aged 32 years.  Also her father Jno Dullahanty who departed this life in the year 1790 aged 64 years.  Erected by her husband Jno Purcell of Jurpoynt.
7.Upright stone.  Erected by Richard Leahy of Sheepstown in memory of his father James Leahy died 5th Decr 1852 aged 72 years. His mother Mary Leahy died 17th June 1851 aged 65 years. Requiescant in Pace Amen.

The almost illegible Leahy stone but note the elegant and beautiful carved top with scrolls This would have been an expensive stone in its day. 

Names recorded on the memorials
Barron 1
Boyle 2
Cuddihy 4
Dullahanty 6
Funcheon 5
Hughes 2
Kinahan 2
Leahy 7
Lee 5
O'Shea 4
Purcell 6
Voss 3


Places recorded on the memorials
Croan 4
Jurpoynt 6
Newmarket 5
Sheepstown 1,7.

An interested observer!