Kilkieran Graveyard: Part 2. The Walsh Family of Fanningstown

One of the most impressive memorials in Kilkieran graveyard is a large sarcophagus type memorial enclosed in heavy substantial iron railings, which stands quite close to the ancient West Cross  Unfortunately neither the sarcophagus not the railings have yielded up a maker.

The sarcophagus has the following inscription along the side "Sacred to the memory of John Walsh Esq., of Fanningstown, JP for the counties of Kilkenny and Waterford, who died 29th April 1872 aged 74 years. And his wife Eliza Walsh nee Power who died 1 March 1870 aged 74 years. Requiescant in Pace. This tomb is erected as a tribute of affection by his cousin Peter Walsh of Fanningstown".  An additional plaque has been placed on the top of the sarcophagus which reads "In loving memory of Peter Francis Walsh, Ballycastlane, Carrick on Suir died 24 Sept 1947(?) aged 77.  His wife Catherine O'Neill died 9 Feb 1937(?)(no age given).  Their sons John died March 1919(?), Patrick died  Aug 1977 aged 72, Peter, Piltown died 2 Jan 1987 aged 68.  Bridget Walsh nee O'Dwyer, wife of the above Patrick, died 7 Feb 1995 aged 89. Also Ethel Moran nee Walsh, Rossenarra, daughter of the above Peter and Catherine who died 22 Feb 1999 aged 77".  There are other small memorials place inside the iron railings which also commemorate later members of this family. The end of the mausoleum has a carved coat of arms for the Walsh family. This is exactly the same coat of arms used by the ennobled Walsh family of Chateau de Serrant, the Loire, France. John Walsh died in Dublin as reported in the Freeman's Journal on 2nd May 1872.  As well as being a magistrate grand juror for the county of Kilkenny had been for 25 years the Agent for the extensive Ormonde estates in Kilkenny and Tipperary.

The Walsh Coat of Arms and crest over the entrance gate to the Chateau de Serrant, France; from our collection. These Walsh are said to come from South Kilkenny and played a prominent part in the1745 uprising and invasion of Bonnie Prince Charlie into Scotland and England. This ended disastrously with complete defeat at the Battle of Culloden,

The Walsh coat of arms and crest from the Walsh of Fanningstown sarcophagus at Kilkieran.  Note that both have the swan pierces through the neck with an arrow.

The following report of Mrs Walsh's funeral on the 7th of March 1870 was found in The Tipperary Vindicator for 15th March 1870.  It is interesting on several counts: She died on the 3rd March and was buried 4 days later.   The coffin plate reported her age as 73, whilst the sarcophagus that was eventually erected gives her age on death as 74.  Obviously it was a very large and important funeral well attended by the tenants from the Walsh estate.   The report indicates that the mourners had white hatbands and scarfs which seems unusual.   It also seems quite evident that most of the mourners who started out at 6am from Garryricken and Killamery were uncertain as to where the actual burial was going to take place, although they seemed to know the time of the burial 10.30am   The fact that the procession turned into Kilkeiran graveyard seems to come as a surprise to many.  Mrs Walsh, who had been proactive in restoring the ancient High Crosses at Kilkieran in 1858, had expressed the desire to be buried by the most beautiful Cross.   And the report tells us that in 1870 the graveyard was almost in disuse.   The report also establishes which branch of the Power family she belonged to and where the traditional burial place of those Powers was - Rathcormack, county Waterford.

Monday the 7th inst., was the day appointed for the funeral of this much-regretted lady (the wife of John Walsh, Esq., J.P,  Fanningstown. county Kilkenny, and sister of the late Lorenso Power, Esq, Bonmahon Lodge, County Waterford). The coffin had been previously removed from Fanningstown to the Chapel of Owning, and after the religious services, which were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Maher, and were attended a large concourse of people, amongst whom the Kilcash and Garryricken tenants were numerously represented, the melancholy procession was formed to proceed to the place of interment at half-past 10 o'clock a.m., and preceded by the clergymen, in white surplices and stoles, chanting the service peculiar to the occasion, and amidst the sobs and tears and prayers of many, the coffin was borne forth to the hearse. It was a massive sarcophagus, covered with black velvet, highly mounted, and bearing on the breast plate the simple inscription   “Eliza Walsh, died March 3rd, 1870, aged 73 years”.  It was followed by Mr. Walsh and several other sorrowing relatives, as chief mourners, draped in the accustomed mourning- costume.   Amongst the clergymen present were Rev. Mr. Maher, P.P., Owning;  Rev. Mr. Power, R.C.C., Owning; Rev. Wm. Maher, PP, Windgap; Rev. Dr. Fitzgerald, PP, Carrick-on-Suir;  etc.,  Amongst the carriages and vehicles of the local gentry in the procession were those of Mr Lalor, D.L., Cregg House; Mr. Clement Sadlier; Mr Malcomson, county Waterford; Captain Slacke, R.M., Carrick-on-Suir; Dr. O’Ryan, Carrick; Mr Briscoe, Tinvane; Mr. Weld, J.P., Coolaughmore;  Dr Ryan, Callan;  Mr Monck, the Castle Office, Kilkenny;   Mr Macnamara, Windgap;   and Mr  O’Donnell, Kilcash.   Officers under the noble House of Ormonde, were also in the procession, whilst Mr. Walsh’s own tenants supplied a large contingent. Many declared they had never witnessed a longer line of vehicles of every description, the occupants of which, of both sexes, having come from the neighbouring districts of “the three counties” namely, Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Waterford, and were all most respectably attired. The immense profusion of scarfs and hatbands, under the meridian rays of vernal sun, imparted to the procession a striking and impressive appearance, suggesting the idea of moving mass being thickly snow-flaked from beginning to end— that is, from Owning (recte Sgeach), a distance of two miles.  The wealthiest portion of the Ormonde tenantry, from Garryricken, Kilcash and Killamory estates, had vehicles of their own; but those who were not provided with such conveyances had engaged special cars at Callan, Nine-mile-house, etc., Uncertain as whether we should have to go to a distant cemetery of “The Walshes of the Mountains" or to the burial-place of the deceased lady’s Branch the Powers "Rathcormack, county Waterford” , we started from Garryricken gate, and Killamery at 6 o’clock, a.m., determined to go beyond the Comeraghs if necessary, in order to pay the last tribute of respect at the grave of good Mrs Walsh; but we were mistaken; the lady was interred in the ancient church yard at Kilkeiran, county Kilkenny, alias Sgaugh, situate on Mr Walsh’s property. It appears that having visited this interesting spot some few years since, in the company of her husband, she then expressed an earnest wish to be buried at the foot of the most remarkable of the three ancient stone crosses in the secluded cemetery, which is now almost disused. Her “last resting place,"  at the eastern base of this majestic chantry to the right, now almost hidden from exterior view by an exuberant covering of ivy. This choice of grave—mutually made, is said—excited the liveliest interest, and the popular tradition of the origin of “the seven crosses" was discussed in different parts of the graveyard. The repairing, or rather securing, of two the crosses at Kilkieran some years since, by the direction the deceased lady, was referred to on all hands by those who bore witness to her kindly disposition. Her Christian charities, and annual distribution of winter clothing has endeared her to her dependents and the local poor the vicinity of Fanningstown.  The fervent hope of all was that she had gone to receive her reward in the home of the blessed, where joy is unmixed and sorrow unknown   (From the Correspondent  of the Kilkenny Moderator).  Mrs Walsh resided in Carrick-on-Suir before her marriage, and was always held in the highest respect by everyone to whom her many amiable qualities endeared her. 

This Walsh family of Fanningstown is the same family of the well known and distinguished Peter Walsh of Belline, agent to Lord Bessborough who is the subject of a separate blog (see post Kilkieran Graveyard Part 3: Walsh of Belline, Piltown).