We first visited this site in 2012 to confirm our commitment to record all the headstones and memorials at this outstanding historical site. In all there are 246 memorials and it was a mammoth task in recording them all. Some memorials are inside a roofed area of the church, some in the ruins outside and others in the open graveyard. In all we produced 8 maps to ensure that future researchers would be able to find and identify a particular grave or memorial. We also produced complete indexes to family names, to locations, to occupations marked on the stones and to the masons where the mason has signed a stone. We transcribed exactly what was written on each memorial, including any abbreviations used by the masons, and some very strange spellings; this may say something about the literacy of the masons, or indeed about the literacy of his clients but we felt it important to be precise about the wording on each memorial. Given the chequered history of this area both Catholics and Protestants are buried here. Some memorials hide fantastic stories such as No 12 to Thomas O'Flaherty who was murdered by arsenic poisoning in 1788 although this is not evident from the inscription on the stone; for more information about Thomas O'Flaherty see our blog entry dated 8/2/2016 entitled The Kilkenny Graveyard Blog. Stone No 167 commemorates Patrick Cuthbert who was Post Master at Gowran and who died in the 1798 Rebellion; his end was particularly gruesome although again this is not immediately evident from the inscription on his stone. Without any doubt there are most probably very interesting stories behind every memorial if we could only find the time to do more research! This is a site managed by the Office of Public Works and we are grateful to them and the staff who work on the site for all their positive assistance and enthusiasm for this project. The exterior graveyard is beautifully maintained; the roofed area of the church, which contains 42 memorials is open to the public during the summer months. Our complete work, including details and full transcriptions of every memorial was published in "In the Shadow of the Steeple, No 12" by The Tullaherin Heritage Society 2015. Copies of this particular journal may be available on sale from St Mary's at Gowran when the church is open to the public during the summer. We do not have copies to sell ourselves. This was such a large project that we have decided to present it here in several sections, Parts 1 and 2. Part 3 will touch on the Gowran master, an early stonemason of undoubted skill.
This is an elaborate ruin and known as the Collegiate Church of St Mary or the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. The ruin and surviving roofed area dominate the small town of Gowran; it is one of the finest 13th century parish churches in Ireland. Thomas Walter Butler, one of the ancestors of the Butlers of Ormond, who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185, founded Gowran. Gowran remained a Butler stronghold until the Butlers acquired Kilkenny castle in 1391; the Butlers remained the owners of the manor and the castle of Gowran until the time of the Cromwellian confiscations. These were ultimately purchased by the Agar family, a settler family from Yorkshire in England, who held them until the 20th century.
 |
| This is the ledger slab with floriated cross dedicated to Maurice Cass. Bernie did the excellent rubbing. |
 |
| Outline map of graveyard at St Mary's Gowran showing position of all memorials |
Index to names
Agar 204,206,209,210,225
Alexander 209, 210
Alley 20
Athenry, Lord 225
Atkinson 221
Aylward see Toler-Aylward
Bealy119
Bijar 8
Blanchville 204, 209
Blunt 27
Bolger 124
Borroughs 131
Bradstreet 22Bradley 199
Brandon, Countess of, 225
Breannan 1
Brenagh 229
Brenan 6,24,27,83,115,159
Brophy 136,137
Burke 19,225
Burne 124
Burrowes, 162
Butler 2,22,101.213, 218,220 238,239
Byrne 24, 50
Cahill 45, 92
Cain 62,
Call(--) 36
Callan, Lord Baron 225
Cantwell 92
Cas 241
Clifford 16
Coady164
Coburn 192
Comerford 32, 37
Conely 111
Connolly 100, 101
Connor 158
Crerar 197
Croak 94
Croke 93
Crow 36
Cuff 202
Cuthbert 107,166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171
Darby 214
De Bohun 218
Dempsey 86
Denroch 33
Dimaqa 246
Donally 60
Doran 24,32,33
Dowley 102
Dowling 50
Doyle 53,75,111
Dunn 64
Dunphy 67
Dweyr 77
Dwyer 55,56
Egan 50
English 200
Ellis 184
Erecias 246
Farrell 7, 16,72
Fanning 85
Fenton 173
Feris 127, 160
Fleming 133
Fowler 123
Frane 60
Gantley 191
Golding 145
Gorman 39, 51
Graham 198
Griffin 57
Griffith 160, 161
Hackett 14
Harper 4, 20
Harris 139
Harrison 42
Healy 44, 128
Henesy 58
Hewson 195,214
Hoban 87
Hobley 147
Holahan 58,59
Holiday 135
Holohan 49, 57
Hooy 205
Houlihan 105
Howard 109
Hudson 27
Hues 82
Kavanagh 38
Kavangh Sadhbh MacMurrough 213
Kavenagh 36
Keally 13,14
Kealy 11,13,14,35
Kearney 211,221,226
Keefe 62,63,118,123
Keeffe 61, 73
Kehoe 6
Keife 71
Kelly 17,18,26,66,75,202
Kelsey 80
Kennedy 52
Keys 85
Kinchella 138
Lawless 108
Leech 40
Lewis 152
Liston 152
Loughnan 2
Lyons 51
Maher 59, 178
Mandeville 128
Manson 185
Marshall 134
Martin 175
Matthews 194
Max 165
Mayo, Lord Viscount 225
Meany 54
Melea 104
Millea 105,106
Moore 78
Moran 121,133,134,135,151,170
Morissy 121
Mulroney 85
Murphy 60,66,71,80,81,87,91,125,129
Murray 15
McDaniel 187
McDonagh 181
McDonogh 181
McEvett 177
McLoughlin 37
Naish 11
Nase 231
Nash 11, 123
Nashe 13
Newell 222
Nolan 49
Norris 36
Nowlan 26
O'Connor 47
O'Donnell 128
O'Flaherty 12,19
O'Hara 21
O'Kearney 226
O'Keeffe 65
O'Meagher 56
O'Neil 69
O'Neill 68
Oldfield 111
Ormond 208,218,220
Owen 165
Payne 179
Phelan 43, 119,120
Purcell 5, 208
Quirk 86
Radoulfus 219
Ralph Julianus or Ralph de Baligaveren 219
Rice 159
Roche 101
Roth/Rothe 203,205,208,227
Ryan 18,103,158
Saunderson 172
Shirley 175
Shortall 142,143,231
Stanton 10
Staples 215,216
Stapleton 40,176
Taylor 146
Tobin 52, 158
Toler-Aylward 150, 223
Travers 76
Treacy 45, 142
Vaughan 205
Wale 229
Walsh 79
Walshe 129
Walton 58
Ward 197
Wemyss 209
Whelan 186
White 13, 120,212,227
Whitelaw 182Whitefield 141
Whyte 68, 97
Willett 19
Williams 201Willis 196
Wynne 201
Index to Places recorded on the stones.
As usual in most Irish graveyards Gowran has a good smattering of very exotic place names recorded on headstones and memorials indicating, that many Irish people travelled the world. Here can be found a memorial to George Walter Rothe, 13th Light Infantry who died 17th November 1823 at Canton of the coast of China, aged 19 years. And the memorials to the Staples brother; Lieut Thomas Staples, 1st Bengal Fusiliers who having served in the battles of Aliwall, Moodkee and Sobraon died in September 1831 of the effects of a wound received at Sobraon aged 28 years. His brother Monsey Staples of the 68th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry died at Akyab in Arracan 3rd December 1843 aged 25 years.
Akyab 216
Aliwall 215
Arracan 216
Ballyquirke 44, 62
Barrack Street 128
Barrowmount 10,75
Bengal 215,216
Bishopslough 66
Black Quarry 136
Blanchville 191,211,226
Bohergaddy 87
Borris 123
Bramblestown 65,73
Bricana 63
Bricanna 125
Bricken Clara 6Bridgeroad 85
Butler's Grove 2203,205
Caen 227
Canton 227
Carberllan/Caerberllan, Merionethshire 165
Carlow 59
Castle Ellis 52, 76
Castlefield 19
Castleinch 202
Castleroe 6
Castleville 170
Castleyard 197
China 227
Clara 1
Cloydah 221
Conicare 61
Crowhill Lodge 2Crumlin, county Antrim 173
Danesfort 209
Dublin 162,211,222
Dunbell 19, 191
Edenvue house 56
Enniscorthy 56
Flagmount 55,56,77
Garryduff 43
Goresbridge 86
Gowran 11,13,14,20,21,35,38,39,40,45,49,50,51,53,54,76,81,93,97,104,108, 129,131
135,143,158,159,164,166,167,170,176,177,179,186,194,195,196,199,208,209,214,215,219
Gowran Castle 179, 185
GPO Dublin 162Graigue 15
Holdenstown 198
Kellymount 202
Kildare 6
Kilfane 60
Kilkenny city 16,26,37,40,101,120,128,138, 202
Kilkenny county 10,12,19,152,173,198,221,226,227
Kilkenny Road, Gowran 164
Kilmocahill 141
Kilmagar 2
Larne 159
Lavally, Queens's county 159
Liverpool 47
LowGrange 103
Mayo county 205
Meerot 215
Moodkee 215
Mount Rothe 227
Newtown 66
Nore View 19Normandy 227
Osiry 38
Ossory 40
Rathboran 78
Rathvane 175
Red Bog 47
Royal Oak 59
Shankill Castle 150,223
Sobraon 215
Somme, battle of, 212
St Canice's Cathedral 214
Tascoffin 172
The Demense 199
Thomastown 133,203
Tinahely, county Wicklow 192
Tramore 27
Warrington 105,106
Waterford 26York and Lancaster Regiment 212
York, city of, 135, 209
 |
| One of the many faces found on the stones at Gowran; look at his lovely fringed hair. |
What a great site. Too bad I discovered it 3 weeks after my visit to the Church... I'm very interested in the early Shortalls that were buried there. DO you have any more info that you can share of the 3 interments that you have listed?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
John
Hi John, I also have Shortall in my history from Tulloherin. James Shortall and Catherine Walsh, children were born 1775 to 1800
DeleteHello John
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting our site. Delighted to help you if we can.
Stone 142. Erected by Edward Shortall in memory of his father and mother, brothers and sisters. Also his wife Catherine Shortall alias Treacy who depd this life Decr the 2nd in the year of Our Lord 1833. Also his children Michael, Edward and Anne who died young. Stone leaning forward,
Stone 143. Base still standing in situ; upper part fallen flat and face down. Erected to the memory of Mr William Shortall of the town of Gowran who died on the 27th of September 1856 aged 41 years. Also his father Mr Edward Shortall who died on the 17th May 1858 aged 68 years. Also Mrs Catherine Shortall who died on the 27th November 1866 aged 44 years old. Requiescant in Pace. Stone mason marked as Keeffe, Kilkenny.
These stones are side by side so related. Probably the Edward Shortall who erected stone 142 is the same Edward Shortall who died 1858 on stone 143. The use of the terms Mr and Mrs on stone 143 indicates this was a highly respectable family; most stones do not include such titles. Also it is evident they are Catholic from the Resquiscant in Pace. (May they rest in peace)
Stone 231.This is a very large floor slab or table of altar tomb, now broken with eight pointed cross down centre dating from about 1600. Hic Jacet Richard Nase et Ellana Shortall uxor e q. obit (.......) de mensis (......) This appears to be the complete transcription; the dates have never been filled in. Translates as "Here lie Richard Nase and Ellen Shortall his wife, who died in the month.............. Nase can also be Naish, Nash, Nashe etc.,
Carrigan's History of the Diocese of Ossory has information on the Shortalsl of Ballylarkin, of Upper Clara, of Rathardmore and of Highrath. You can probably find this online somewhere as published 1904.
with good wishes from Mary and Bernie.
Greetings from Spain! Thank you for your blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm searching for my Irish heritage and I think I've found a Newell ancestor at stone 222...could you share any more info about it?
Thank you very much!
Javier
Hello Javier. Stone No 222 is a blank memorial with a missing plaque. Only the name of the mason is available to us which is Alex Ballantyne, 126 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin. What remains of the memorial are of marble and limestone. According to Homan Potterton in his book Irish Church Memorials 1570-1880, this memorial tablet was to John Newell who died in 1850. He is listed in Gowran Subscription Dispensary 1822-1855 by Mary Moran in the Journal In the Shadow of the Steeple No 5. 1996. John Newell is described as a Medical Attendant and died in July 1850. I am afraid that is all we have but hope this is helpful to you. Kind regards Mary and Bernie.
ReplyDeleteGood morning from Australia. My oh my you have certainly done a huge job on this old grave yard. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteI am doing a lot of research into the Cody/Coady (164), Maher (59, 178), Aylward (150, 223), Dowling (50), Tobin (52, 158), Phelan (43, 119, 120), and Whelan (186) families of Gowran. Is it possible to get any further information about inscriptions for those names please? I'm sorry there are so many. I tried to purchase a copy of your publication but couldn't manage it. I can feel a visit from Australia to Gowran coming on!!!
Many thanks
Susan Kennedy
Hello Susan
ReplyDeleteWe will get back to you as soon as we can on this.
Mary and Bernie
Susan. No 162. In loving memory of Martin Coady, Kilkenny Rd, Gowran died 3rd July 1970 aged 87 yrs and his wife Nora died 1926, RIP. Erected by their grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteNo 178, John Maher died Sept 9th 1871 aged 70 years.
No 59. This stone erected by Margaret Holahan otherwise Maher in memory of her beloved husband Walter Holahan, late of the Royal Oak in Carlow who depd this life 17th December 1822 aged44 years. Lord have mercy on his soul.
No 50 Erected by James Egan of Gowran in mem of his father Richard Egan who died March 3rd 1852 aged 80 yrs. Also mother Mary Egan died 3rd April 1820n aged44 yrs. Also sister Margaret and 7 children who died young. Above names James died Feby 12th 1894 aged 87 yrs and his beloved wife Margaret nee Byrne who died Feb 17th 1900 aged 80 yr. Also his son in law Edward Dowling who died March 8th 1891 aged 41 yrs. their daughter Eleanor Dowling nee Egan 1st Nov 1905 aged 54 yrs. Their daughter Mary a Egan died 11th Aug 1923 aged 70 yrs. And their grandson James Dowling died July 22 1930 aged 47 yrs. Thomas Dowling died 11th Jan 1962.
No 186. Whelan. This is published in full in Part 2 of Gowran with photo.
No 150 In this vault lie Hector J. C Toler Aylward DL, JP of Shankill Castle died July 28th 1918 aged 79 and his wife Emily M.E. Toler Aylward died Jan 23rd 1934 aged 81.
DeleteNo 223. Stained glass window. To the Glory of God and in loving memory of F.J.C Toler Aylward DL who died 28th July 1918. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious sees shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.
No 52. Erected by Nicholas Kennedy of Castle Ellis in memory of his beloved wife Eleanor Kennedy alias Tobin who died August 17th 1843 aged 63 years. Also his son James Kennedy who died Jan 17th 1841 aged 20 ys and two of his children died young.
No 158. Sacred to the memory of Richard Tobin of Gowran who departed this life 28 of June 1847 aged 84 years, also his beloved wife Mary Tobin who depd this life 12 Jan 1853 aged 80 yrs. Also their son James Tobin who depd this life March 31st 1870 aged 70 yrs. Also Bridget Tobin who died Feb 10th 1915 aged 76 yrs. On whose soul Sweet Jesus have mercy. Her mother Kate Tobin nee Ryan also interred here, another sister Mary Connor nee Tobin died Sept 5th 1923 aged 82 years. May their souls rest in Peace.
No 43. Here lieth the body of John Phelan late of Garryduff who departed this life Aug 26th 1804 aged 20 years. Also his brother Nicholas Phelan, Garryduff depd 15th July 1820 aged 44 yrs.
DeleteNo 119. Here lieth the body of Thos Phelan who dept Sept 2nd 1810 aged 71 yrs. also his wife Mary Phelan als Bealy who dept April 12th 1819 aged 75 yrs. Also his son James Phelan dept Dec 23rd 1794 aged 4 yrs. Requiescant in Pace.
No 120 Erected by John Phelan of the city of Kilkenny in memory of Bridget Phelan alias White whop depd Aug 12th 1831 aged 54. Her eldest son James Phelan died 20th July 1818 and their son Patrick who died March 26th 1813. May they rest in peace amen. Stones 119 and 120 next to each other so related.
Could you let us know what your Aylward connection is? We are interested in any Aylward connections. Those Toler Aylward are Church of Ireland, of Shankill Castle, Paulstown, and are well documented. Most other Aylwards are Catholic
best wishes Mary and Bernie
Hello, greetings from Tasmania. Fanstastic work! I have been researching my family history and my direct ancestors come from Gowran. The stone for "Keys 85" would most likely be one of my family. I would be very greatful if you could post any detail on that stone here.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Brendan Kays
Hi Brendan,
DeleteYou are our first response from Tasmania and thank you for getting in touch.
Stone 85 at St Marys Gowran reads
Erected to the memory of Martin Keys of Bridgeroad who died Febry 23 1897 aged 86 yrs. Also his wife Mary Keys Als (nèe name) Mulroney died August 13th 1851 aged 60 yrs. Also his father Michael Keys and Mother Bridget Keys als Fanning of whom both died of extreme old age. Also his daughter Ellen who died young. Requiescant in pace.
Brendan we hope this is of help to you.
Mary and Bernie
Thank you! Some years since I posted and I just found your reply now.
DeleteRegards,
Brendan
Gidday kilkennygraveyards mob. Well done and thankyou for your inspiring work and generosity to descendants and interested folks from all over. I am a Blanchville /field descendant in Victoria, Australia. If you could give me any info, transcriptions or anything on the Blanchville head stones Blanchville 191,211,226 I would be very grateful. I would love to know more about the family if you have any other tips.
ReplyDeleteHoping to come over next year and could meet up and help having fun out there doing rubbings and anything else with you.
Mandy Collins
Hello Mandy. Stone 191 relates to a family called Gantley living at Blanchville, Dunbell. Stones 211 and 226 are Kearney stones; this family lived at Blanchville. However stone 204 is the Blanchville family "Under lies the body of Ellis wife to Charles Agar Esq., and daughter to Peter Blanchville, Gent, who died 10th day of October 1703". Stone 209 refers to James Agar son of Charles Agar of the city of York by Ellis his wife of the Ancient family of Blanchville who died the XXX day of December MDCCXXXIII in the LXIII of his age. He married twice firstly to Susanna Alexander by whom he had three sons who died young and 2ndly to Mary, daughter of Sir James Wemyss of Danesfort by whom he had 7 children...A fragment of the 1821 census for Blanchfieldpark, Gowran, has survived. This lists William Blanchfield, 54,farmer with 80 acres, Bridget Langton married 6th Nov 1803 (presume wife) aged 37, Son Richard 17, son John 15, son Patrick 13, son Edmond 11, son Peter 9, daughter Eleanor 8, son James 7, son Daniel 6, daughter Margaret 4, daughter Mary 2., Eleanor, niece aged 23 (daughter of Pierce Blanchfield and who married James White of Holdenstown) and Bridget niece aged 18.
ReplyDeleteHope this is helpful to you. The Tithe Applotments and Griffiths Valuations would be your next port of call, both available free on line at www.irishgenealogy.ie. Also the 1901 and 1911 census are free online via The National Archives and from www.irishgenealogy.ie
Hope this helps you with your research.
Kind regards. If we find anything else we will contact you again.
Mary and Bernie
Hi
ReplyDeleteWould be glad of any help. I am looking for a Major Townley killed at Gowran Castle 21/22March 1650 and may have been buried at Gowran Church
Thanks
Marty
Marty
ReplyDeleteWe have checked for you and there is no memorial to Major Townley at Gowran, St Mary's Collegiate Church. Of course that does not mean he is not buried there, just no memorial. We also checked the inscriptions in the graveyard for St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny but also drew a blank. He might have a memorial inside the Cathedral but we do not have a complete list of those.
With best wishes
Mary and Bernie
Am interested as to whether you may have details as to the parents of Patrick Cuthbert?
ReplyDeletePeter and Jan (nee Cuthbert)
Sydney Australia
Hi from Melbourne, Australia and hope you are doing well during these difficult times!
ReplyDeleteI am researching the Alley families of Kilkenny, particularly Gowran and Castlecomer (there was supposed to be a Charles Alley Rector of those places in the 1700s, but I think Burke's got him mixed up with Rev Peter Alley).
We had John Alley and Charles Alley of Newtown, and a whole band of gunsmith brothers around Kilkenny and Dublin (Lewis, George, James, William and John Alley). Which is a very long way of asking, please can you tell me what is on the Alley tombstone at number 1
20?
Rev Peter Alley also married Grace Shortall, the daughter of Rev John Shortall, so there definitely seems to be a local connection. I see you have already provided the Shortall gravestone inscriptions- thank you so much for all your hard work!!
Cheers, Rosie Alley
Ok Rosie let us look this up further
ReplyDeleteHi there, wondering if you had been able to look up the Alley gravestone (20)? Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteHello, wonderful project you have done.
ReplyDeleteCould you please look up Bolger family please
Hi Im interested to know more of 55,56 & 77 Dwyer Could you please let me know what is on the ehad stones. thank you so much
ReplyDelete