Tullaherin Graveyard (new), Parish of Tullaherin, county Kilkenny

There are two sections to the graveyard at Tullaherin.  This survey relates to the newer part of the graveyard which is divided from the ruined church, round tower and older section of the graveyard by a stone wall.

The old stone style inset into the dividing wall between the old and new graveyard.

The survey of the older graveyard, which we will list separately, will without doubt have some of the same families names that appear this newer section of the graveyard.  Currently are 106 memorials in the new graveyard but this is a graveyard still in use and burials still take place here.  The oldest memorials in this part of the graveyard date from the 1930s and 1940s. There is some overlap though. The older graveyard has many memorials dating from the 18th century but there are some later dates appearing on these memorials in the older part of the graveyard up to the 1940s.  There is a priests section here with 6 memorials to former parish priests. there are also at least 4 memorials to members of the Old IRA; that is men who fought in the War of Independence.  There is an ogham stone in this graveyard.  As always both Bernie and myself have worked together in surveying this site.

Index of names appearing on memorials
Aylward,  Barcoe, Barry, Bennett, Bergin, Blackmore, Bollard, Brennan, Breathanch (Walsh), Burke, Butler, Byrne, Cahalane, Cahill, Carroll,  Cassin, Cass, Cleere, Clinton, Cody, Coleman, Conway, Corcoran, Coyne, Cuddihy, Cullen, Dobbyn, Drennan, Dullard, Dunne, Egan, Farrell, Fennelly, Fitzgerald, Fleming, Galway, Gibbons, Goolay, Greene, Hanrahan, Heskin, Hogan, Holahan, Holden, Holland, Keaney, Kelly, Lawler, Lehane, Lennon, Lyons, Magee, Maher, Malone, McGauren, McGrath, Menzies, Millett, Moran, Moylan, Muldowney, Murphy, Murray, Oliver, O'Brien, O'Connell, O'Connor, O'Donnell. O'Gorman, O'Mahony, O'Neill, O'Reilly,  O'Sullivan,                     O Ciardhubhain, O h-Ulldcaer, Nolan, Phillips, Pierce, Power, Prendergast, Purcell, Reddy, Robinson, Roche, Roe, Ryan, Skehan Somers, Sullivan,  Suton, tobin, Wall, Wallace, Walpole, Walsh, White.

This is part of the dividing wall between the old and newer part of the graveyard. Note the skull carved into the top right hand of the large supporting stone.

Index of places recorded on the memorials
Baile Sugradh, Balinaboola, Ballylinch, Ballymurphy, Barronsland, Beechpark, Bennettsbridge, Bishopslough, Bishoplough House, Blackrock, Browneford, Caran, Castlefield, Castlegarden, Castle Garden, Cloughscegg, Coppenagh, Corbally, county Cork, Crowbally, Cuanogue, Dublin, Dunbell, Dundrum, Dungarven, Fermaagh, Galway, Inistioge, Kilbenny, Kilbline,  Kilfane, Kilfane House, Killarney, Killarney Cross, Kilkenny, Kilmacow, Knockanore, Leap, Maidenhall, Newhouse, Newtown, Rathduff, Sandfield, Stroan, Stoneen, Sugarstown,  Sugartown House, Summershill, Sutton Park, Thomastown, Tullaherin, Woollengrange

Memorial stone inset into the wall recording the unrecorded graves of babies and others in unmarked graves

List of Occupations as recorded on the memorials
Artist,  Doctor, Nun, Old IRA, Priest.
List of masons who signed the memorials
M. Doyle of Carlow, Gargan of Kilkenny, Gargan McDonald of  Kilkenny,  McDonald of Maddoxtown, Mullen of Kilkenny, J Nolan of Ballan, J O'Keeffe of Ballysloe Gorthnahoe, Walsh of Carlow.


The ogham stone at Tullaherin Monastic site.

Lennon Memorial at the Stroan Fountain, Parish of Kilfane, county Kilkenny

The Stroan Fountain before restoration

The Stroan Fountain is a very beautiful and elegant monument made of cut limestone and was a source of potable water for the tenants on the nearby Kilfane estate.   It is just to the side of a road leading from the main Thomastown - Gowran road towards Tullaherin.  Originally thought to be built in 1766 it is now thought more likely to date from 1866.  It is fed by a cistern about 40 metres away to the northeast which in turn is fed by a natural spring.  The whole fountain and surrounding pool area has recently been lovingly restored by the Tullaherin Heritage Society, the Follies Trust and the Kilkenny County Council.  The fountain bears the following  damaged inscription 1766 (now thought to be correctly 1866) Erected by subscription by permission of the landlord Gervase Bushe. Designed and arranged by Thomas Seigne.

The Stroan Fountain after restoration in 2010

Adjacent to the boundary of the fountain and facing east is a little known and generally unnoticed metal memorial cross usually hidden in overgrowth. This metal cross bears the inscription " Jerry Lennon, Knocktopher. Killed June 8th 1922. RIP"

The dating of this inscription  might lead the casual observer to assume that this was a memorial to an event that was related to the Civil War but this was not the case.  This is a roadside memorial placed at the site of the accident and does not commemorate a burial place
A short report appeared in The Kilkenny Journal June 10th 1922.   Sad Accident. Knocktopher Cyclist Killed. Just as we go to press we learn that Mr E Lennon (sic), when cycling home from Gowran Races,  on Thursday evening collided with a cow which crossed him on the road between Stoneyford and Knocktopher, and was killed instantly. Mr Lennon was a very popular figure in athletic circles and won many cycling events. We sympathise with his bereaved relatives on the tragic way in which he met his death.
A report in The Kilkenny Journal June 17th 1922 on the inquest and verdict on the body of the late Jeremiah Lennon reveals the whole story. 
On June 9th an inquest was held by Dr Walsh, Coroner for South Kilkenny in the licenced premises of Mrs Blanchfield, Kilfane, Thomastown, on the body of Jeremiah Lennon, who was killed the previous evening at the Stone Fountain (sic), Kilfane.   The following jurors were sworn:- Patrick Doyle, Kilfane (foreman), David Holohan, John McGrath, John Power, Denis Tracey, James Hearne, Richard Cuddihy, Thomas McGrath, Peter Maher, Michael Egan, Thos. Maher, Martin Touhy, and James Doyle.   Brigade Police Officer T. Direen and Batt. Police Officer W. O'Keeffe represented the police.  Bernard Kavanagh, Ballynamone, giving evidence of identification deposed that he was the step-brother of the deceased.  The deceased was 43 years of age, married, with his wife living and his occupation was given as farmer and cycle agent.  Patrick Doolan, Thomastown,  stated he was with the deceased when the accident occurred. The deceased was leading when coming to the hill at the Stone Fountain (sic). The witness and James Kelly were coming about 20 yards behind. There were several cows on the road; the deceased got through the first of them all right but one of the cows backed out of the ditch just as the deceased was passing.  The bicycle struck the hindquarters of the cow and the deceased was thrown heavily against the road. He was unconscious when the witness and James Kelly came along. They took him off the road and sent for the priest and the doctor. He only lived about 25 minutes afterwards.  Dr P.J. Murphy deposed that he made a superficial examination of the body. Fracture of the skull was in his opinion the cause of death.  The jury returned the following verdict - "Jeremiah Lennon died from fracture of skull accidently.  We strongly condemn the practice, at present quite common through the country, of having cattle on the public road without any control".
There is a Lennon headstone in Knocktopher graveyard but Mr Jeremiah Lennon does not appear on the stone.   The census for 1901 for Knocktopher Manor, Knocktopher records Maria Kavanagh, a shopkeeper and farmer living with her son Jeremiah Lannon (sic) aged 19, daughters Mary, aged 11 and Kate Lannon aged 8.   Also resident are sons Joseph Kavanagh aged 4 and Bernard Kavanagh aged 2 years.   Son Jeremiah is recorded as born in county Carlow.  He appears in the 1911 Census aged 27 years, unmarried, with his occupation given as a cycle agent.  There is a Kavanagh plot in Knocktopher graveyard with a headstone erected to members of this Kavanagh family but Jeremiah Lennon/Lannon's name does not appear on this headstones either.

Position of the metal cross in relation to the Stroan Fountain

Further Reading
1. Kilkenny Graveyard Inscriptions: Knocktopher. Kilkenny Archaeological Society. 1988.
2. Stroan Fountain - conservation, maintenance, repairs and refurbishment of ornamental stone fountain and surrounds by Ivor McIlveen in In the Shadow of the Steeple No 11. 2012.

Newtown Jerpoint, Parish of Thomastown, county Kilkenny

View of the ruined church and the walled graveyard at Newtown Jerpoint

Newtown Jerpoint graveyard is wonderfully situated close to the banks of the river Nore and the Little Arrigle river.  The ruined parish church which dates to circa 1170 is dedicated to St Nicholas.  A now ruined and abandoned town, probably established by William Marshall, the Earl of Pembroke, in 1200, was called Newtown to distinguish it from a another town that stood nearby and which is now called Oldtown.  Newtown Jerpoint is about a quarter of a mile from the famous Jerpoint Abbey which is now under the care of the Office of Public Works.  Newtown Jerpoint itself is on private land but the current owners have done much to open up the site to the general public, especially the remains of the ruined town (see http://jerpointpark.com).  The graveyard contains both Catholic and Church of Ireland burials and we recorded 49 memorials or headstones.  The Hunt enclosure has 14 memorials relating to this family with an other one just outside the enclosure. The Hunt family once owned this land and the nearby property called Belmore House.

View of the Hunt enclosure

One of the most famous tombs is a carving of an ecclesiastical arrayed in full priestly vestments which also seems to date from about the year 1200.  His hands are flat and not crossed on the breast, his head is bare and his feet which appear to be peeping out of his gown are in slippers or shoes. On the right side of the his head is another effigy carved in low relief of a human head resting on a triangular shaped mitre; another corresponding head is on the left side but minus the mitre.  This is locally referred to as the tomb of St Nicholas of Myra, also known as Santa Claus. St Nicholas is actually buried in Bari in Italy but without doubt there has been a devotion to St Nicholas at Newtown Jerpoint for centuries.  Many families in the area carry the name Nicholas which would be otherwise fairly rare in rural Ireland. It is possible that a relic of St Nicholas, the patron saint of generosity and philanthropy,  was brought back to Newtown Jerpoint in mediaeval times which would account for the continued devotion to this saint at Newtown Jerpoint.


The broken memorial said to be of  St Nicholas

Having obtained permission from the landowners, Joe and Maeve O'Connell, Bernie and I set about mapping and surveying the graveyard which at that time was fairly uneven underfoot; the grass was kept down by the efficient munching of sheep.  Many of the headstones date from the early to mid 19th century, with some mediaeval stones.  However it happened, we noticed a corner of what we took to be another 19th century fallen headstone protruding from the ground; on partially uncovering this what we discovered instead was an incised stone seeming to date from mediaeval times.  We immediately informed Joe who then notified the Heritage Council of the discovery; we realised this was a stone not listed in any of our books on mediaeval carving in Kilkenny.

 It turned out to be a completely unknown memorial incised with the figure of a monk, his feet resting on a dog. Part of the inscription, in early latin script read "Here lies Thomas Po(er?).  Pray for his soul ".  He was obviously an important personage, probably a parish priest,  as his stone lies immediately to the right of the tomb described as that of St Nicholas.    It was an amazing find.   a complete archaeological dig was later done surrounding the tomb by people from Cork University but the final results have not yet been published.

A line drawing by Bernie of the previously unknown mediaeval ledger slab



Apart from these two mediaeval memorials we located two memorials dating from the 17th century.

This is a rubbing of a broken but highly decorated and carved 17th century slab.  It reads "Hic jacet corp Oliveri Waton dns de Growe fillius....et Ellenora Purcell uxor ei q obit...." This translates as " Here lies the body of Oliver Waton, lord of Grove, son of......and Ellinor Purcell his wife who died (no date)".  This stone was recorded as being at Walton's Grove in 1903 where it was in Mr Gorey's garden at Jerpoint House.  It is not known when it was removed to Newtown Jerpoint Graveyard.  Oliver Waton of Watonsgrow, Gent died in 1620 and left a son and heir Edward Waton then 36 years old. Ellinor Waton alias Purcell died 1st April 1625.

There were a number of headstones dating from the 18th century with the dates 1763, 1771, 1774, 1771, 1779, 1781, 1788 and 1792,  There were 19 headstones with dates prior to 1850. One stone was leaning at such an acute angle that even with flash photography and mirrors to try to capture the inscription, regretfully we were unable to read it.

All the spellings are copied exactly as inscribed on the headstones; for example Baunskeha and Baunchechy are actually the same place but spelt differently by different masons when carving the stones.
The following upright  headstone to John Deleany who died in 1774 is within the ruined church. Being within the ruined church was a highly desirable place to be buried.

Note the beautiful deep clear carving, now exposed to the elements for 243 years.  And the space saving devices such as the letter "e" above the "y" for ye; and "Dep" with "ed" cut above the letter "p". All very carefully executed by the unnamed mason.  Note also the lovely bold IHS with cross and heart that decorates the top of this stone with hourglasses on each side. The letter "S" is particularly finely carved.   This is quite a high class piece of rural sculpture.

Alphabetical List of Names and plot number
Barry 19, 38
Boyd 10
Brennan 48
Brennen 41
Burk 23
Butler 20
Byrne 48
Cahill 37
Caulfield 5
Corcoran 41
Daniel 43
Deleany 46
Demspey 25
Den/Dene 47
Dooley 32
Dubordieu 5
Eagen 34
Fitzgerald 4,25
Follis 20
Greene 11
Hanrahan 27, 28
Helsham 7
Holohan see Whologhan
Hoyne 49
Hunt 1 - 15 inclusive
Ivory 31
Kavanagh 22, 49
Ke... 31
Kea...30
Kealy 19
Kerwin 41
Keva...30
Kneefe 18
MacDonald 25
Mackey 20
Murphy 34
Nicholas, Saint (supposed) 39
Po (er?) 40
Poor 34
Power 36
Purcell 21
Reade 22
Ryan 18, 26
Shortall 25
Stopford 3
Teasdale 16, 17
Wade 26
Walsh 23, 24, 27 ,28, 41
Waton/Walton 21
Whologhan 37


Alphabetical list of places mentioned on memorials and plot number
America 19, 48
Ballyhale 41
Baunchehy 23
Bawnskeha 27, 28
Belmore 2 ,3 ,11, 12, 13, 14,  16, 17,
Gavet 48
Gerpoint 47
Greenville 11
Growe 21
Jerpoint 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13 ,37
Jerpoint House 6
Johnswell 22
Jurpt (Jerpoint) 34
Kilfera 3
Kilkenny 6
Kilkenny city 9
Kilminogue 49
Monarue 38
Newtown Jerpoint 21, 47
New York 26
Oldtown 19, 25, 48
Pittsburgh 19
Raheen 43
Toronto 14
Walton's Grove 21
Waterford 11


List of occupations recorded on the memorials
Captain 6 (63rd Regiment)
Gentleman 47
High Sheriff 7
Lieutenant Colonel 7
Magistrate 6
Private 32 (5th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment)
Reverend 11, 12


List of Masons
O'Shea of Callan and Kilkenny (Memorial No 26)


Interested observers

Cullawn Church Graveyard, Kilcullen, parish of Thomastown, county Kilkenny

Cullawn Church graveyard lies in the townland of Kilcullen and on a back road from Inistioge to Thomastown.   The site is not apparent from the road and can be difficult to locate; parking on the road is not easy.  Access is via a gate marked with a cross and through a field where the graveyard is to be found on the left in a walled and gated area. The Kilkenny Graveyard Mapping Project records this graveyard ID as 314 if you need to locate it on their interactive map. There may be cattle in the field. Carrigan in his History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory records the church ruins as very ancient and dating from before the Anglo Norman invasion; most of the church walls are now nearly down to the ground with the exception of the east gable. Stones are scattered all over the site and it is very uneven underfoot; there appear to be many markers but it is impossible to tell which stones might have been specially placed to record a burial.  It may have been used as a Killeen.  All the burials appear to be Catholic and as there are only 5 headstones, 4 with inscriptions, we have transcribed and copied inscriptions here in full.  Carrigan says that Kilcullen belonged to the Dobbyn family until the Cromwellian confiscations.  We accessed and recorded this graveyard in June 2015.




1. Kerbed plot.  In loving memory of the Dobbyn Family Chapel Hill. Richard Dobbyn, Woodstock died 5^th April 1957.  His wife Mary died 12^th June 1988. Their daughter Margaret Kavanagh late of Leicester died 5^th March 1993 aged 63. Rest in Peace Amen. O’Donnell. Waterford.




2. Broken Celtic Cross.  On base: On whose souls Sacred Heart of Jesus Have Mercy.  2 broken parts of the Celtic Cross are leaning again the wall of the church: the long shaft of the cross is finely decorated and marked Thy Kingdom Come; the circular part of the cross has a Sacred Heart with cross insert.  The part of the stone with the names of those buried is missing.




3. Finely carved upright tombstone.  Gloria scroll, sunburst and wreath/garland around top of stone and sunburst, IHS and 2 ciboria in lancet type windows.  Erected by Richd Hearn in memory of his sister in law Mary Heartley who depd this life March 22^nd 1817 aged 30 years. Also her sister Catherine Heartley who depd this life March 23^rd 1819




4. In loving memory of Daniel White, Kilkieran died 11^th March 1976. Erected by Danny McDonald. WHITE.




5.Celtic Cross on pediment base with A, X with a long tailed P through it, O on top of cross, a decorated ribbon down shaft of cross with In Hoc Signo Vinces on ribbon.  On front: a small Maltese cross – Erected by his children to the memory of our dear beloved father Morgan Kavanagh, Rossroe who died June 17^th 1925 aged 78 years. Also his wife Bridget Kavanagh and his son John Kavanagh who died young. And his daughter Mary (Ciss) Kavanagh died August 23^rd 1949. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on their souls. Gargan. Kilkenny.  On left hand side: His son Bryan died June 13^th 1953 aged 74 years. RIP. His wife Mary died Aug 20 1949. Statia White Kilkieran died July 4 1972.   On right side : His son Michael Kavanagh died 7^th Dec 1959.


Index of Names on the stones
Dobbyn 1,
Hearn 3
Heartley 3
Kavanagh 1,5
McDonald 4
White 4,5


Index of Places recorded on the stones
Chapel Hill 1
Kilkieran 4,5
Leicester 1
Rossroe 5
Woodstock 1


Index of Masons who signed the stones they carved
Gargan, Kilkenny 5
O'Donnell, Waterford 1

Kilkenny Board of Health Registers of Internments

Tucked away in the Kilkenny Archives at John Street, Kilkenny city are some very valuable resources for the Kilkenny family historian.  Amongst the most interesting for this blog are a series of civil burial registers which mainly commence in the early 1940s; some end in the 1970s but others go right through to 2005/2006.   These are NOT part of the church records but are civil internment records kept by Kilkenny County Council.  If you are seeking a burial within the relevant dates and in a graveyards which is listed below, it would be advisable to consult these registers, especially if you are not finding the name you seek on a headstone or memorial. We have found that people listed in these Registers of Interment are not always to be found recorded on a headstone in the relevant graveyard, which is why these registers are so important.  These registers are not available anywhere online, probably because much of the information is fairly recent and could be regarded as sensitive.  The information recorded in these registers is as follows:- Christian and surname of the deceased, sex, age, religion, occupation, whether married, single, widow or widower or a child, the last place of residence, date of death, date of interment and signature of the caretaker and registrar.  The information has been entered in ink and by hand on pre-printed register pages. 
The last place of residence is usually the townland of the family home but may include such locations as  Dublin, London, England, or New Jersey USA indicating that whilst people may have died overseas they were often shipped home to Ireland for burial in the family plot.


Accompanying these Registers of Interment is a one page Kilkenny County Council document entitled "Duties of Registrars of Burial Grounds; approved on 6th March 1947".  These duties are based on the Rules and Regulations for the Regulation of Burial Grounds dated 6th July 1888, 23rd December 1919 and 12th March 1929.   Most of these rules and regulations concern being present at burials, ensuring correct procedures are followed and to demand and receive fees where these are chargeable and of course keeping the Register of Interments.   All of that is to be expected but what is very interesting is we learn that the Registrar is also expected "to keep in his custody a map of the burial ground showing the divisions of the burial ground into grave spaces" and "to keep records showing ownership of each grave and available accommodation therein".   Sadly these last records, which would be so very valuable to us all, do not seem to have survived; in any event they are not in the Kilkenny Archives in John Street.  We are still looking for where these maps and ownership lists might be.


 

Kilkenny Board of Health and Public Assistance: List of Registers of Interments:-

1. Aghavillar 1944-2005
2. Ballygurrin 1941-1995
3. Baunfada 1946-1972
4. Brownsbarn 1942-1975
5. Clonamery 1946-1978
6. Clonmatagh Lower 1941-1990
7. Coolagh 1941-1984
8. Danesfort 1942-1961
9. Danganmore 1954-1995
10. Derrynahinch 1941-2006
11. Donoghmore 1941-2002
12. Donoghmore Upper 1942-1979
13. Dungarvan 1954-1977
14. Grange 1944-2005
15. Grange Upper  1948-1961 ( but no burials recorded in register)
16. Kells 1949-1985
17. Kilbeacon 1946-1972
18. Kilkieran 1941-2003
19. Killaloe 1941-2005
20. Kilmocar 194?-2006
21. Kilmakevoge 1945-1981
22. Kilree 1941-1992
23. Kyle 1945-1959
24. Kyleballykeefe 1945-1970
25. Newtown 1941-1972
26. Powerstown 1942-1979
27. Rathcusack or Rathcorrig 1941-1999
28. Rosconnell 1941-1983
29. Shanbogh 1941/2-2002
30. Shraleagh 1942-1958
31. Smithstown 1941-1971
32. Stonecarthy 1948-1975
33. Threecastles 1945?-1963
34. Troyswood 1941-2005
35. Urlingford 1941-1988

A view of Stonecarthy graveyard with one of our helpers

Gowran graveyard, St Mary's Collegiate Church, Co Kilkenny. Part 2.

Amongst the very interesting memorials is an altar tomb dating from 1620 which has on the table top a carving of a skeleton divesting itself of its shroud as it rises from the dead, presumably on the day of resurrection; sadly; although dramatic this does not photograph very well   This is a tomb dedicated to the memory of Jacobus Kealy  and his wife Ellena Naish but her date of death has never been filled in.   One of the supporting stones at the end of the tomb has St Peter holding his key to the Kingdom of Heaven.

But look again: St Peter is smoking a dodeen.....presumably carefully carved sometime after the original carving was completed.....and when tobacco smoking with a dodeen (or pipe) was fashionable.......

Close up of St Peter circa 1620........smoking!

Quite close by is a renaissance monument decorated with two shields, one with two lions rampant supporting a castle for Kealy impaling three doves with olive branches in their beaks for Nash. The other shield has the same arms for Kealy but this time impaling a chevron between three roses for White. This is a highly sophisticated memorial and finely carved but the final dates have never been completed.  This reads " Here Lieth the bodies of Mr James Keally sometime of the town of Gawran gentleman who died ano dni 16(--) and of Mrs Ellen Nashe, his first wife who died the 30 day of the moneth of Jvly ano dni 1640 and Mrs Mary White his second wife who died the (--) day of the moneth of (----_ ano dni 16(--).  He erected this monument for himselfe, his wifves and children in the moneth of December ano dni 1646".  The follows a now almost totally  illegible verse "Both wifves at once alive he could not have. Both to inioy (enjoy) at once he made this grave"




Index of masons

John Bergin 44

Alex Ballantine, Dublin 222

Aileen Anne Brannigan 194

Brennan, Royal Oak 125,150

Coates, Dublin 226

Colles, Kilkenny 192

R.Colles 170

John Cullen, Royal Oak 129

Keeffe, Kilkenny 14346.

McDonald, Maddoxtown 76

Mullen, Kilkenny 199
Murphy, Wells 85

Nolan, Ballon 197

O'Shea, Callan 195

O'Shea, Kilkenny 47,65,80

O'Tunney (attributed to) 238

Smyth, Edward (attributed to) 225

Very elaborate memorial to James Agar who died in 1733 aged 63 erected by his second wife Mary Wemyss of Danesfort. Compare this to the memorial slab below which commemorates his first wife Susannah Alexander.



There is quite a lot to say about this memorial slab.  It is very plain indeed and note the spelling of here as heare.   The mason has cut fine deep lettering but some letters are the wrong way around such as the S in ESQr and the N in AND, although he does get the N correct in GENT; the two Ns in Susanna's name have been joined together,  The third line from the bottom DECEASED has been abbreviated as DED and the mason has then run out of space as the word THE has been carved with the T and the E carved as part of the initial H.  In all this seems a very inexperienced hand that has carved this memorial.  Also Susanna is memorialised, not in her own right but as the wife of one man and the daughter of another.  Susanna's memorial may be very plain as she produced no living children which would have been her main role in life.    The wording on the elaborate memorial to her husband is perfectly carved and reads:-

James Agar Esqr, son to Charles Agar of the City of York by Ellis his wife of the Ancient Family of Blanchville died the XXXth day of December MDCCXXXIII in the LXIIId year of his age.  By his first wife Susanna, daughter to James Alexander Esqr, he had three sons who died young.  He afterwards married Mary, daughter to Sir James Wemyss of Danesfort by who he had 7 children, 3 of which are here interred.  He acquired a plentiful fortune with a fair reputation. His disposition beneficient and humane gained him the desirable character of a tender husband, an indulgent parent, an affectionate relation, a kind master and a good neighbour.  His private charities were not few and the new building for the seat of his family together with the poor house of Gowran are instances of his public liberality, the former he began and completed, the later by him founded and endowed is since finished by the MOURNFUL RELICT who out of sincere respect to the WORTHY DECEASED has caused THIS to be ERECTED AS A MONUMENT TO HIS MERIT AND HER AFFECTION.



 

Index of stained glass window artists
Healey, Michael (of An Tur Gloine) 212
McGoldrick, Hubert V, (of An Tur Gloine) 223

Lieut Aubrey Cecil White died 1916.

An Tur Gloine, meaning The Glass Tower, was established in Dublin in 1903.  It was an important part of the Irish Arts and Crafts movement in the first half of the 20th century involved as it was with the concept of Celtic revival and the cultural search for a specific Irish identity. Michael Healy  was one of the first recruits; Hubert McGoldrick joined in 1920.  These are high class stained glass windows.  The above window is by Michael Healy and the inscription reads "York and Lancaster Regt. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give a crown of life. To the glory of God and in memory of Aubrey Cecil White, Lieut. York and Lancaster Regt who fell in action July 1st 1916 aged 20 while leading his men in the Battle of the Somme". 

Index of Occupations recorded on the stones

Attorney/Attorney at law 135,170

Constable 208
Forester 185
High Sheriff 226
Land Steward 179
Medical Attendant 222
Member of Parliament 203
Merchant 138
Military 166,167,212,215,216,221,226,227
National Teacher 199
Post Office Officer 162,167
Prebendary 214
Priest 26,35,38,39,40 71
Recorder 202
Rector/vicar 20,141,172,195,196,214,215,221
Revenue Officer 135,170
Sergeant 128,173,192
Treasurer 214


Recording the attainments and achievements of the deceased upon the headstone became important, particularly to the settler families, seeking to reinforce their position in society.  One such example is the family of Cuthbert who have a group of 6 headstones in this graveyard (Nos 166-171 inclusive) and from which it is possible to draw out quite an detailed family tree. Patrick Cuthbert is memorialised on his headstone "Sacred to the memory of Mr Patrick Cuthbert for many years Post Master of Gowran, he fulfilled the duty of his profession and employment during a lifetime of Honour, Honesty and Integrity. He died in the Honourable cause of  his King and Constitution in the 48th year of his age June 25th 1798. Reader Remark a Fond Father, a sincere friend possessed of a benevolent Heart to the distressed".   There are masonic symbols on the headstone.   This stone tells us quite a lot about Patrick;  his occupation, his allegiances, his character (or at least how the grieving widow wished it to be commemorated).   The date 1798 is absolutely critical and gives a clue as to why he died - Gowran is right on the border with Carlow, the place of terrible brutal fighting during the 1798 rebellion  There is a Kilkenny Marriage Licence dated 13th May 1780 for Patrick and a Margaret Agar.  According to these headstones there were three children of this marriage. A son Lieutenant Kingston Cuthbert (1787-1842), Emily who died aged 14 years in 1812, and James Cuthbert, recorded as an Inland Revenue Officer. James was married to Mary, daughter of Maurice Moran, Attorney of Castleville, Gowran.  Mary was born in 1800 and died 7th December 1883. Most of these Cuthbert stones have biblical quotations which would indicate this family belonged to the Protestant persuasion.  One of these headstones is signed by the mason Colles of Kilkenny.  In all a tremendous amount of useful genealogical information about the Cuthbert family.
A broken stone, now lying flat, within the unroofed section of the ruin commemorates a young man with a very strange sounding name. "Here lies the body of Mr Robert Bijar who departed this life ye 5th June 1756 aged 25".   This seems such an unusual name in Ireland but may be found in Dublin.  A Robert Bijar (obviously not our man here buried but possibly his father) subscribed to the book, The Natural History of Carolina by John Bricknell MD, published in 1737 in Dublin.  In fact Robert and Mary Bijar ran an East India Goods Warehouse in Abbey Street, Dublin.  In 1747 Mary Bijar advertised Chinese wallpapers as well as Indian silks, painted Indian calicoes, Indian dressing boxes, tea chests, Indian fans and Turkish coffees (Wallpaper in Ireland 1700-1900 by David Skinner. 2014 ).   All this seems very exotic indeed but portrays a very different side of Ireland in the 18th century.  According to Deeds found in The Registry of Deeds in Dublin, this Bijar family was in Dublin as early as 1712.
There is much early Catholic family history to be gleaned from the headstones in the exterior graveyard.   The family of Brenan/Brennan from Clara can be traced from several stones starting with a David Brennan who died in 1751 aged 72 years (born 1679) who married Mary Doran born in 1691 and who died 1755.   The father and mother  of Mary Doran who married David Brennan can be found on an adjacent stone - Mathew Doran ( born1657) who died 1745 aged 88 years and his wife Mary Comerford (born 1667) who died in 1729 aged 62 years. 
There are many Holohan stones here.  No 57 has a charming and unusual poem; the stone reads "Erected by Ann Holohan in memory of her nees (sic) alias Mary Griffin who departed this life April 20th 1811 aged 26 yrs. Dear Angles which (watch?) this sleeping dust, until Christ do come to rise the just, then may she awake in sweet surprize and in our Saviour's image rise".
Stone No 36 gives us a great deal of genealogical information "Here lieth ye body of ye R.F (Reverend Father?) Edmond Crow who having passed 36 years in a foreign country came to his native soil to join his remains with those of his grand-father and grand-mother Edmond Crow and Catherine Kavenagh, his father and mother Daniel Crow and Catherine Norris, his brothers Mich., and Pat Crow. He deceased Xber ye 28 1757 aged 68 yrs. Requiescat in Pace Amen. Think oft of death, love God. observe his law, conserve your soul and shun the serpent's claw. Pater + Ave."  The Edmond Crow commemorated on this stone was born in 1689 and presumably had gone abroad to study for the priesthood..  Both his parents and grandparents are mentioned taking the family back to about the 1630s.  This is very early information to have and this is the first time we have found the unusual verse here in Kilkenny.  There is a stylised serpent that runs around the interior of the exterior ruin........

Headstone No 138 is a damaged stone and  like many of the other stones very hard to read but the inscription is as follows:- "God be merciful to ye soul of Mr John Kinchela of the city of Kilkenny, Mercht decsd Novrb ye 5th 1761 aged 45 yrs.  Erected by Mr John Kinchela his son".   There follows a short verse "Remember man I am what thou shall be and as you are so .... I once like thee".  What makes this stone distinctive is a carved skeleton, in a coffin,  with very well defined details such as hip bones and rib cage, lying length ways along the bottom of the stone almost now hidden from view.  Momento is carved on the right of the coffin and Mori carved on the left (meaning remember death).

The blade of grass is just below his rib cage, his skull is clearly visible on the lower right side of the photo and his hips and legs extend out to the left side of the photo at the bottom; the skeleton is encased in a coffin but the mason had not signed his work.

Finally a reused and broken stone carved with loving care. Stone No 186 to the Whelan family "Sacred to the memor(y) of ....Elen Whelan of (Gowran?) who died Jan (...) the 5 1889 aged (...) Brid, Tom and Dan who died (.....)ry 1889, also their moth(er) Margaret Whelan died 1915 aged 47 yrs. RIP"

ADIEU

Gowran graveyard,St Mary's Collegiate Church, Co Kilkenny. Part 1.

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.

The site holds, within the roofed church, many medieval ledger or grave slabs from the time of the 13th and 14th centuries; most of these are decorated with floriated crosses but one records in Lombardic script "Hic Jacit Maurici Cas (Here lies Maurice Cas).   Another early slab has an 8 pointed cross and states in Latin  "Here lie Edmund Brenagh and Isabella Wale, his wife who died in 1515.   Another stone apparently dating from about 1600 records in Latin " Here lie Richard Nase and Ellen Shortall, his wife, who died.....(incomplete).    The earliest stone is an ogham from the 5th or 6th century and reads "Maqi eracias maqi...dimaqa muco" which has been translated as "son of Erecias son of Dimaqa descendant of.......).. Yet another early stone records Ralph Julianus, or Ralph of Baligavern who was parson of Gowran; the date, presumably of his death is March 19th 1253-4.

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 22
Bradley 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 182
Whitefield 141
Whyte 68, 97

Willett 19

Williams 201
Willis 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 6
Bridgeroad 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 2
Crumlin, 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 162
Graigue 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 19
Normandy 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 26
York 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.