Kyleva Monument, Hugginstown, Parish of Hugginstown, county Kilkenny

Just outside the village of Hugginstown, in the townland of Kyleva, is one of those interesting small roadside memorial found all over Kilkenny.  The inscription is now almost worn away by exposure to the weather but reads "This monument was erected to the memory of Thomas Healy of Lismotigue(sic) who departed this life Noverbr(sic) the 10 1840. Grant eaternal(sic) rest unto him O Lord. Amen". (Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland. Vol II. 1852/58. Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society).  The person commemorated by this memorial is not buried here; the monument is placed on the site where he died unexpectedly, presumably in an accident.


The Kyleva wayside memorial to Thomas Healy of Lismatigue died November 10th 1840 just outside the village of Hugginstown. 

As it happens there are three headstones in the old Hugginstown graveyard for this Healy family of Lismatigue.   Stone No 60 on our list is a large old stone with a sunburst design and a Gloria scroll decorating the top of the stone but the stone is very weathered.  It reads "Erected by the widow Healy alias Grant of Lismatigue in memory of her husband Thomas Healy who died Nov 2nd (stone damaged here) 1839 aged 55 years".     This Thomas Healy was married to an Anne Grant.  In addition there is a modern inscription dating from 1992.  The reverse of this large stone is very interesting with a latin cross and an IHS carved into it, plus a funereal verse which reads "In deathly form we here waiting for the sound of the trumpet from the sky, Waiting that day until awful Judgement, To make my happiness or misery complete".    This might be the Thomas Healy of the Kyleva monument but the dates are mystifying and there were actually two Thomas Healys of Lismatigue, senior and junior.  The Kyleva monument does not actually identify which Thomas Healy is being commemorated and it may well be that one of them died in November 1839 and the other one died at Kyleva in November 1840.




Stone No 28 at Hugginstown graveyard, is another very old and corroded stone again decorated with a sunburst design at the top of the stone. In all probability this stone and stone No 60 have been carved by the same hand but both stones are unsigned.  This reads "Erected by Michael Healy of Lismatigue in memory of his father Patrick Healy who died April 10 1832 aged 71 years and mother Elenor Healy who died June 23rd 1837 (damaged here). Also his nephew William Healy (who) died April 1840 aged 18 yrs."

Stone No 32 in Hugginstown graveyard is a Celtic Cross and the signed work of Molloy of Callan and Dungarvan.   This reads  "Erected by James Healy, Callan in memory of his parents Philip Healy of Lismatigue died 22ne July 1888 aged 57 yrs. Ellen Healy (nee Comerford) died 20th Nov 1904 aged 54 yrs.  Also four of their children who died young.  Mary Healy nee Sullivan died 2nd May 1922",    Other members of the family are also remembered on this memorial, notably those in Sydney, Australia.






According to the Tithe Applotments taken in 1833 for Lismatigue Michael Healy, Thomas Healy Snr and Thomas Healy Jnr were jointly renting 56 acres at Stone Park, Lismatigue.  Additionally Thomas Healy Jnr was renting another 18 acres at Mooneermore, Lismatigue.  Philip Healy and Thomas Healy Snr were also renting another 43 acres at Glenkeerawn, Lismatigue.  Clearly a respectable farming family of some substance.