St Mary's Church and Graveyard, Thomastown, county Kilkenny

As part of the Kilkenny Heritage Week events held in August 2018 we were honoured to be invited to give a guided tour of the memorials in the ancient graveyard and former church at St Mary's, Thomastown.  There has been a church on this site from 13th century but the present building dates from only 1818, so this was the 200th anniversary of its erection. The church building is now a private residence and we thank the owners for their generous hospitality, both to us and to the people who, despite the rain, turned out for the tour.  Thank you!  It was great to see you all including two ladies from Canada, Reverley and her daughter Camryn,  who were on a search for the burial places of their Kilkenny ancestors.

This is a graveyard with both Catholic and Protestant burials.  There are 225 memorials in all which includes 30 markers which record a burial place but without the person being identified.  The site is very old and has 13 ledger slabs or parts of ledger slabs.  There are five memorials dating from the 17th century and 32 from the 18th century.  There are 31 memorials dating from between 1800-1850. 

A display of some of Bernie's rubbings of 17th century memorials

And the dog came too!

Viewing some of Bernie's  rubbings of 17th century memorials carved with symbols of the Passion

One of our favourite stones erected by Captain Christopher O'Connor of Philadelphia in memory of his parents.

View of some of the memorials now erected in the entrance hall of the former church

The next day, we were happy to help Reverly and Camryn find some of their Raftice family headstones in Derrynahinch, Knocktopher and Ballyhale; they also got a quick tour of the Carrickshock Memorial as their people had been involved in  the battle of Carrickshock and the Tithe War of 1831.  They got quite a baptism of fire into the basic fieldwork we do, crossing fields of cows, dealing with lethal stinging nettles and thistles and also the irritating biting ants......but we all had fun and we were sorry to see them go on their way back to Dublin to catch their flight to Canada.  Come back soon!  We have actually had a really busy summer and have accumulated quite a bit of interesting material.  We will start posting some of these graveyards soon.  

We also wish to thank people for their kind comments about our article on Kilkenny Graveyards and tombstones which had just appeared in Irish Roots, 2018 Third Quarter  (issue No 107).   Thank you very much!

Famma Graveyard, Parish of Thomastown, county Kilkenny. Part 1: O'Gorman of Ballyduff.

Famma was once a parish in its own right consisting of one townland of only 492 acres, called Brownsbarn.   There is a small ruined church within the walled graveyard.

It is not an easy graveyard to access, although there is occasionally a tantalising glimpse of the graveyard from the Thomastown to Inistioge road; the route in is not straightforward and has evidently not been accessed for years. What once must have been a pathway to the graveyard is now overgrown and the way not  at all obvious. 

This small graveyard is very unkempt and untidy and has no modern burials.  But it has now revealed some of its treasures to us even though we have not yet finished surveying the graveyard.

The most fascinating memorial is now lying flat on the ground just outside the ruined church and is somewhat exposed to the weather.  This reads "This stone was erected in memory of Michael O'Gorman who lost his life on 9th July 1841 in the city of Candahar, Bombay.  He rests beneath a silent tomb, deprived of life in early manhood, not by the valiant on the (indecipherable) but by a coward's deadly weapon slain, far from his home in Ireland, he fell by the assassin's hand, whilst his (indecipherable) name shall (indecipherable) as peace win, thousands his untimely fate shall mourn and let each Christian hope ere his ashes lie, that his eternal soul has towered above the sky.   Here lie interred the remains of his brother Terrance O'Gorman who departed this life March 6th 1826 aged 24.  His sister Anastasia died Augt 1st 1838 aged 18 yrs.  His father Denis Gorman died March 27th 1842 aged 77 years. May they rest in peace Amen".    It is interesting that both O'Gorman and Gorman have been used on the same stone but apart from that minor point this memorial presented us with quite a few challenges.   Candahar (now spelt Kandahar) is in Afghanistan and is nowhere near Bombay.  And just how and why had this young man been assassinated?


The Internet can work wonders and produced the following explanation from an unsigned letter in The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, 1841,  "The victim was a highly respected man, a Mr O'Gorman who had been employed as a writer to Major Todd on his mission to Herat. O'Gorman was quietly walking up one of the streets in Candahar which was rather crowded with natives. It was in a street leading to the citadel when an Afghan made up to him and thrust his chuco (sic) or native knife into his abdomen. Before he could repeat the thrust a sepoy of the 38th Native Infantry laid him low with a blow of a lattee (sic) on the temple and immediately secured him. He was then carried before the Political Agent and before I had time to reach my quarters I heard the report of a gun which blew him to a thousand pieces". 


The Freeman's Journal for Friday 12 November 1841 supplied the following further information when they published in full a letter addressed to Michael O'Gorman's sister Mrs Murphy of Northumberland Avenue, Kingstown, Dublin, from C.F. North, Lieutenant Bombay Engineers, Assistant Political Agent at Candahar.   The letter is dated Candahar July 29th 1841. " Dear Madam. it has been my painful duty to communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the death of your brother, Michael O'Grady Gorman, who fell a victim to the knife of an assassin in the streets of this city on the morning of the 24th instant.  Your brother was returning from his usual morning's walk, when a fanatic who had come in from the country on purpose to murder some European officer to which he had been excited by the Mullahs, seeing no other victim nearby and being misled by the genteel appearance of your brother, plunged the knife into his heart. The murderer was immediately secured, and almost instantaneously blown to atoms from the mouth of a gun.  This is not the only instance of the kind in this hostile country.  Your brother lingered from seven till noon when he expired.  I received his last wishes, and read the burial service over him (there being no clergyman here the same evening) and having had everything done to his remains that his family could have wished.   He had been some time under orders here, and at Heraut, and I assure you, no one can regret his loss more than I do, as his good conduct and qualities, far superior to those usually found in men in his situation, entitled him to the respect and confidence of his superiors.  As soon as his affairs have been arranged, I will write to you again and let you know the amount of his estate which he desired to be sent to his mother - a few articles which he wished to be sent to your address will be taken by Major Lynch to Dublin, two or three months hence, who will inform you of his arrival at Kingstown or Dublin.  The articles are coins, gems, a watch, the knife of the assassin, a portrait in pen and ink of your brother, done by himself, and testimonials from the different officers under whom your brother served.   I shall have a tomb erected over your brother's grave and shall have a blank slab left for any inscription which you might wish to have carved on it.   To you I leave the painful task of breaking this affecting intelligence to the members of your family and of offering them consolation under their bereavement.  I will not attempt to describe my own feeling or those of all who knew your brother.  It is awful to see one in the pride of life and prime of manhood this suddenly, and without provocation, sent into the presence of his Maker by the knife of an assassin and veterans familiar with battle and sudden death, stand horror-struck at such an occurrence.  With every expression of sympathy in your grief and of consolation under this affliction, believe me, my dear Madam, yours faithfully C.F. North, Lieut. Bombay Engineers, Assistant Political Agent, Candahar."


The following extract from The Dublin Evening News 8th November 1841 adds a little more information and is under the heading  India - Murder of Mr O'Gorman - The only news we have from the north-west is the following letter dated 26th July giving an account of the murder of Mr O'Gorman at Candahar,   " I lament to inform you that a most respectable and well conducted European met with his death yesterday from the hands of a murderous Afghan.  He was a Mr O'Gorman who had accompanied Major Todd on his mission to Herat in capacity as writer, and who remained here on that officer's departure for Hindoostan.   He was quietly taking his morning walk  through the Chasons(sic) when the villain, watching his opportunity, quietly walked up to him and buried his murderous chaco (sic) in his bowels.....the poor unoffending European survived but a few hours, when he expired from internal hemorrhage........the felon......stated that there were seven more men in the city who had bound themselves by oath on the Koran to destroy every European they could meet with, having an opportunity."


Lady Florentina Sale (1790-1853), wife of Sir Robert Sale, a courageous and indomitable lady, kept a diary during her capture as a hostage by the Afghans during the 1st Afghan war. This was published as A Journal of the Disasters in Afghanistan 1841-1842.  In this she wrote a further illuminating insight into the career of Michael O'Gorman.  "...............is a man of bad character; he has lately got himself into bad repute by writing letters to the newspapers under the signature of "Sharpe".  He was also connected with a man by the name of O'Grady Gorman in a correspondence with the Russians; which was proved by a letter found amongst the papers of the latter after his murder in Candahar".   This would seem to imply that Michael O'Gorman was spying for the Russians but I have found no further information about this.  


The National Archives, London produced a copy of the Administration of the effects of Michael O'Grady Gorman, dated 7th June 1843.  In this he is described as a bachelor, formerly of Ballyduff in Kilkenny, afterwards a private in the 2nd Brigade Horse Artillery, East India Company, but late of Candahar in Afghanistan. Died 24th July 1841. His estate of £200 was granted to his widowed mother Eleanor Gorman. The mother stated that he had been secretary to Major Todd at Candahar. 


The Roman Catholic Baptism Registers for Inistioge start in December 1810 and for Marriages from January 1827 which is not that helpful for this family but the following family tree has been compiled using information from these Registers, the tombstone at Famma and from the Administration of his estate.  The parents of Michael O'Gorman were Denis Gorman (1765-1842) and Eleanor O'Grady (still alive in 1843):-
a) Michael - date of birth not known. Killed in Afghanistan July 1841.
b) Miss Gorman - date of birth not known but married Mr Murphy and living in Kingstown in 1841.
c) Terrence born 1802. Died 16th March 1824. Buried Famma.
d) James baptised March 2nd 1812.  Sponsored: Patt Ayward and Judith Hill. Ballyduff.
e) Patrick baptised 16th February 1814. Sponsors: Catherine Lee and Edmd Kenedy. Ballyduff.
f) Anastasia baptised 13th Dec 1818. Sponsors: Robert Madigan and (-----) Cody. Died 1stAugust 1838.  Buried Famma.


This O'Gorman family were not wealthy.  The Tithe Applotments for Inistioge taken in 1829 has Denis Gorman renting two small pieces of 3rd class land at Ballyduff, both of I acre, 6 perches.  Their relatively modest circumstances might be the reason why they thought that Candahar was near Bombay, although the fact that the letter of condolence came from an officer in the Bombay Engineers might have confused the matter.   Michael O'Gorman himself must have been well educated and certainly held in high esteem by his officers - that is until they discovered the letter in his papers indicating communication with the Russians.   Somewhere in Kilkenny the assassin's knife may still survive - it seems a strange thing to send home to the grieving family.  And possibly the pen and ink portrait may also survive.   Perhaps someone out there may know - we would love to hear more.........


We have tried to find transcriptions for the Military Cemetery at Candahar in the hope of locating the tomb mentioned by Lieutenant North but have drawn a blank. We did find a photograph of the cemetery taken in 1880s showing plenty of memorials, but not one transcription.  Such memorials can be listed in the records of the former India Office Library (now at the British Library), on the British Families in India website or on Eileen Hewson's wonderful site about Irish Graves in the Far East (www.kabristan.co.uk).  The Hon. Secretary for the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia has kindly searched their records which report "There is a large enclosed cemetery in Kandahar holding about 500 graves but without a single marker".  He suggests that the Army may have deliberately left  the cemetery without any markers or headstones as they expected any such markers to be destroyed by the Afghans after the British Army withdrew. 


Famma Graveyard Part 2 will follow soon.

Dr James Quinlan, Templeorum, Kilkenny & Moscow, Russia

Dr James Quinlan supposedly took part in the Napoleonic siege of Moscow in 1812 as a medical officer with the French Army.  According to family tradition he was captured by the Russians but used his medical knowledge to care for both the wounded French and Russian soldiers.  The Russians, impressed by his medical knowledge and whose own medical services were not so advanced,  offered him a post as Head in the Royal Hospital in Moscow and he reputedly was also appointed as personal physician to the Czar and the Imperial family.  


The gateway into the Irish College in Louvain established in 1607

Again, according to family tradition he studied at the University of Louvain but his name is not listed there; it is worthy of note that these records are not complete.   Russian records have him in Moscow as early as 1809; this is prior to the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. Other accounts have him in Russia as early as 1790.  There is much then that is conflicting in the accounts of his early career but he definitely existed as in his Russian Will, written in French and dated 1826,  he left 28,000 roubles for the education of the lineal descendants of his family left back in in Ireland.  There is no evidence that he ever married.
James Quinlan was of Templeorum, county Kilkenny and son of Robert Quinlan of Manganstown near  Kilsheelan and Clonmel (in Tipperary).  The origin of the Quinlan family starts with William Quinlan of Corbally, Templeorum, south Kilkenny in the parish of Owning. 

Main entrance into the Templeorum graveyard with belfry.

Still to be found in the graveyard at Templeorum are six memorials to this family. One reads "Here lies the body of Mary Quinlan who died December the 3rd 1769 aged 55 years, also the body of John and Ellen, her son and daughter; as also the body of her father and mother-in-law Thomas and Ellen Quinlan aged both together 173 years".

Headstone to Robert Quinlan of Meaganstown (sic) who died 1804.  It is highly decorated with a sunburst, hourglasses at each side of the sunburst and an ornate IHS.  This is the father of Dr James Quinlan of Moscow.

The second relevant stone reads " Sacred to the memory of Robert Quinlan of Meaganstown (sic) who departed this life the 20th of February 1804 aged 96 years; his wife Mary (Gaul) who died on the 17th January 1806 aged 84 years; his son Thomas who died the 17th September 1788 aged 44 years; John who died the 14th November 1793 aged 34 years. Patrick who died on the 27th September 1806 aged 56 years". 

 A large alter tomb belonging to the Quinlans of Managanstown now stands in the exact spot of what was once a lofty presbytery called Templeorum Castle which fell in about the year 1800.  This reads  "Here are deposited the mortal remains of Mrs Catherine Daniel of Clonmel who .....resigned her soul.....on the 15th of June 1846 in the 86th year of her age.  Here also repose the remains of her father Mr Robert Quinlan of Manganstown who departed life on the 20th Feby 1804 aged 96 years and of her mother Mrs Mary Quinlan (alias Gaul) who died on the 17th of January 1806 in the 84th year of her age. Requiescant in Pace. Amen".  The information for these last three memorials can also be found in Carrigan's History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, Vol 4.. 1905.   William Quinlan, Robert Quinlan's grandfather who was born circa 1645, was buried at Kilkieran graveyard in 1696. 
Dr James Quinlan's death was reported in The Tipperary Free Press for 16th May 1827 and in the Kilkenny Independent  for 30th May 1827.  Both reports are exactly the same "Died on the 19th of July (that would be 1826) last in Moscow Dr James Quinlan, son of the late Mr Robert Quinlan of Manganstown, near Carrick on Suir. This respectable gentleman was during 36 years Head Physician to the Royal Hospital of Moscow. the noble qualities of his heart endeared him in a foreign land to all who were acquainted with him.  His society was courted by the highest personages attached to the Russian Court, as letters received from his executor, Prince Sergei de Galitzin affirm, and at the same time evince the most sincere sorrow for his death".   This is high praise indeed but if this obituary is correct it means that Dr Quinlan must have arrive in Russia at least prior to 1790 and not with Napoleon's invading army in 1812. Judging by the ages of his 3 brothers and sister Catherine (from the headstones at Templeorum), all of whom appear to have been born between 1744-1760, I think it is fairly safe to suggest that Dr James Quinlan could have been born between 1745-58.  This would put his age at late 70s to early 80s, when he died in Russia.  Given he must have been at least 20 years old but probably as young as 12 or 14 yrs when he left Ireland, he could not have arrived in Russia as a Surgeon, as has reported, until at least the mid 1780s. If he had first gone to France, which seems likely, these dates would have put young James bang in the middle of the French Revolution of 1789; like many others he would have been seeking a way out of France and somehow family tradition has possibly become entangled with facts.  In 18th century Russia medical experts were eagerly recruited from the West; several hundred surgeons and 266 medical doctors were invited from abroad to join the Russian medical service during the course of the 18th century.    Learned physicians from the West were favoured by the Czarist Government because of their expertise in administration, their practical abilities, powers of organisation and prevention of diseases. These medical men were positioned socially just below the ruling aristocracy.  Once their main duty would have been to care for the Czar and his family and other high ranking nobles. But they became a new "imperial elite" employed to strengthen the army and other pillars of the imperial empire as medical innovations were imposed by the Czar from above.  This gave enormous status and but also obligations to these Western trained doctors and surgeons, all bound by oath to serve the Czar and the imperial dynasty   Most court doctors would have been relatively isolated and without exception came from foreign, that is non Russian, families and non aristocratic backgrounds but their special duties as court physicians place them in the highest status of Czarist society. This Russian "recruitment" of Western trained medical men may provide the answer to the arrival and subsequent prosperity in Russia of the young Dr James Quinlan.

The fine iron work on the gate into the graveyard at Templeorum

In his Will Dr Quinlan left 28,000 roubles for the education of his father's descendants in what he described as The Roman Catholic College in Ireland.   Prince Serge de Galitzin, the Imperial Chamberlain at the Czarist court of Czar Alexander 1, was the executor of Dr Quinlan's Will.  He visited London to prove the Will but there was an immediate and persistent problem.   Which college in Ireland had Dr Quinlan meant by The Roman Catholic College in Ireland?   Battle lines were drawn by conflicting claims from Irish Colleges, all claiming they were the College intended to receive the bursary of 28,000 roubles. These Colleges included:-
1. St Patrick's College, Maynooth,
2 .St John's College, Waterford,
3. St Kieran's College, Kilkenny
4. Farranferris College, Cork
5. St Patrick's College in Carlow,
Unable to resolve the matter, Prince Galitzin deposited the money with the Banker Baron Schroder of the firm of J.H.Schroder, of London and incredibly there the money sat for the next 50 years almost forgotten about.  It was not until the 1880s, a legal decision having been taken in favour of St Patrick's College, Carlow, when members of the Quinlan family, including O'Neills, O'Donnells, O'Connells, Fitzgeralds and O'Clerys were able to access the benefits of the bursary.   This decision was taken on the understanding that this College would have been the only Roman Catholic College in Ireland Dr Quinlan would have know about when he left Ireland for foreign parts. St Patrick's College, Carlow was legally constituted in 1784.
It has also been difficult to ascertain which "Royal Hospital of Moscow"  he had been appointed to as Head Physician.   There are several!   These were:-
1. A Military Hospital patronised by the Emperor Alexander, had been established in 1705
2 .Emperor Paul's Hospital established in 1768
3. Empress Catherine II(Catherine the Great) had opened a Hospital in Moscow 1775
4. The Alexander Institute founded in 1802 by the Emperor Alexander
5. The Imperial Hospital for the Poor of the Foundling Hospital, established in 1805. 
Additionally,  as was fashionable in the 18th century Prince Galitzin had built a hospital on his large Moscow estate. This Galitzin hospital was built in Moscow between 1796-1801 and it is interesting that Prince Galitzin was executor to Dr Scanlan's Will as it would suggest a social connection but possibly also one of an employer.   This Hospital is a magnificent building with the main entrance facing the street and with two wings extending from the courtyard to the street.  There is a fine stone staircase climbing from either side to the main entrance.  Behind was a lovely park extended to the river. The hospital was designed with the then latest ideas of medicine in mind.   In 1999 it was still in use as the Moscow First City Hospital.  And the massively powerful Sheremetiev family, one of the richest and most powerful with philanthropic interests and antecedents going back to Ivan the Terrible, also erected an architect designed hospital between 1794-1807 which was for the general pubic. These last two families had an Imperial connection, as would any hospital they established.   Frankly Dr Scanlan could have been employed in any of these Moscow hospitals.

The Galitzin Hospital, Moscow

As a Catholic Dr Quinlan was almost certainly buried in the Foreign  and German Cemetery of Moscow, called the Vvedenskoye Cemetery.  This was the main burial ground for the Catholics and Protestant inhabitants of Moscow and certainly contains Irish people.  The Irish composer and inventor of the nocturne, Dubliner John Field (1782-1837) is buried in this cemetery. Field was an acquaintance of  Dr Quinlan when in Russia.  Unfortunately there are no written records for Vvedenskoye Cemetery although pictures of some memorials are available online via a Goole search..
The remaining three Scanlan memorials at Templeorum graveyard are as follows:-

Almost illegible stone to John Quinlan who died 1761. Decorative and typical Catholic carvings are just about visible on the top of the stone

Here lies ye body of John Quinlan who departed this life ye 21st of March 1761 aged 35 years. with two of his children. This is an upright stone decorated with a typical sunburst, also called a Corona Radiata, with an IHS and cross resting on the bar of the H.

Upright and very clearly cut headstone erected by James Quinlan of Carrick on Suir to his wife Mary Kennedy who died in 1832.  The later additions incised further down  the stone are not at all so well cut. This headstone is to the immediate right of the stone erected to Robert Quinlan of Manganstown.

Erected by Mr James Quinlan of Carrick on Suir, Woollen Merchant, in memory of his wife Mary Quinlan, Alias Kennedy whose gentle and engaging manners endeared her in the estimation of all with whom she had intercourse thought life. She Dept this life 27th July 1832 in the 50th year of her age. Also four of her infant children. Richard Power died March 1900. His wife Bridget nee Quinlan died 1909.
The final stone reads "Erected by James Quinlan of Cuirbally (sic) in  memory of his son John Quinlan who departed this life Feb ye 17 (year not clear) aged 8 years".
My thanks to Bernie for her photographs from Templeorum graveyard.
Further reading
1. Kathleen Berton, Moscow: an architectural history. I.B.Taurus, London. 1990.
2. Eoghan O Neill.  the Golden Vale of Ivowen between Slievenamon and Suir. Geography Publications, Templeogue, Dublin.
3. Andreas Renner. Progress through power? Medical Practitioners in 18th Century Russia as an Imperial Elite in Acta Slavica Iaponica.  Tomus 27, pages 29-54.   http://scr-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp  - accessed 4th April 2018.
4. J. McAuliffe-Curtis..  James Quinlan, formerly surgeon general to the Czar of Russia, 1826. in Irish Journal of Medical Science. 6th Series, No 493, pages 7-15. January 1967.(This is an interesting article about the Will of Dr Quinlan but some of the family genealogy has got tangled up. He has much interesting material relating to Dr Quinlan's Will from the Office of Charitable Requests. there is an undated hand drawn family tree in these papers, used as part of the legal case).
5. Robert Lyall. The Character of the Russians and a Detailed History of Moscow. 1823. Viewed online via Google on 5th April 2018.

Kilree Graveyard, Parish of Dunnamaggan, Co Kilkenny.

Kilree monastic site in the Parish of Dunnamaggan, Co Kilkenny. You will be relieved to know that Kilree is pronounced exactly the same in Irish and in English. Carrigan (History of the Diocese of Ossory. 1904) says this is usually taken to mean the Church of the King but that this is wrong. He says this is actually the church of a saint called Ruidhche (pronounced Ree).  St Ruidhche is a female saint and her feast day is on 8th February.  However she shares her glory here with St Bridget whose feast day is 1st February and who has been recognised as patron saint of the parish and ancient church for centuries.  St Bridget's Well is still to be seen on the north approach road from Kells.

Signpost on the road from the ruined Augustinian Priory of Kell, also known as Kells Monastic site

Wonderful view of the Kilree High Cross which stands 7 feet from its pedestal.

The ruin of the church appears to date from circa 1000 A.D and has strong Celtic characteristics.
The graveyard wraps around the ruined church within a walled enclosure which includes Round Tower which dates from about the same time as the church. The High Cross is west of the enclosure and in line with the church door and undoubtedly in full view of the celebrant standing in the Chancel of the church and facing his congregation.   There is also a Bullaun stone which is a stone with a hollow that collects water. This is thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes and in folklore to have had healing attributes; it is located in the corner of the field north-west of the Round Tower.  This is a unique Christian monastic site with Celtic church, Round Tower and High Cross all being on the National Monuments Register. The site is in state ownership and cared for by the Office of Public Works.  The interior of the ruined church has at least two ancient tombs. One is to Thomas Howling,  who died on the 11th day of May 1534.  The Howlings were a Welsh or Anglo Norman family and Lords of Kilree.  Edmund Howling forfeited his lands and was transported to Connaught in 1653.  But there are still many Howlings in the area and along the nearby Walsh mountains but they now generally call themselves Holden.  Tradition has it that their name is really Welsh and that they belong to old Catholic stock.  Also within the ruined church is an altar tomb whose front panel is decorated with carvings of the instruments of the Passion.  The inscription is in Latin but translated reads " Here lie Mr Richard Comerford who died ....(left blank) and Johanna St Leger, his wife, a matron pious, hospitable and charitable to all who died Oct 4th 1622".  You can see a short film of Bernie taking a rubbing of the Passion symbol decoration including the 40 pieces of silver, a ladder, a flail, a cock crowing and the seamless garment at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUQ3mItJ5b0

The Chancel arch from the nave showing the many attempts to maintain and hold the essence of the original building.



 

Image from South East of graveyard

Round Tower from within the Chancel Arch

This over exposed image also captures the majic of the light





In this very well cared for historic graveyard many of the family names recorded still live locally and  have burial rights here to this day.  In all we recorded 106 memorials, but this does included a few markers. This graveyard has very old and decorative stones. Apart from the memorials dated 1534 and 1622, there are 18 memorials dating from the 18th century.  These are worthy of examination. The spelling can seem strange to modern eyes. Stone No 79 erected in 1759 by the Toole family spells Elsie as Ealce.  There are 26 headstones with dates from 1801 to 1847.  Stone 39 Erected by the Butler family in 1822 has the following verse carved in copperplate at the bottom of the stone.  The verse, or versions of it, are to be found in many graveyards in Kilkenny but here you have a direct sentiment and the voice of a person living in 1822 if you look at the penultimate line. Look at the work main. It should of course, in our time read mean but main is spelt exactly as it would have been pronounced at the time:-
Stand by dear friends
Wipe off your tears
Here I must remain till Christ appears
and when He comes
I main to rise
Unto a life that never dies.

Novel butresses on west wall also showing the Antae where
 the side wall extends beyone the end walls

When Mary and I record details from a headstone we immediately think through the relationships of all the people buried in that plot, from the first person mentioned on the stone,  to the last.  This often sets out the geneaology of the family. You can't but be moved also when confronted with the emotional story of grief and loss that some of these families had to confront.
One such story, and I suppose it is like reading a book for until you begin to read it, it is nothing more than words on a page,  but when the words on the stone are read by us,  the story of that family begins to be apparent. 
At Kilree (stone 42) Patrick Phelan of Newchurch erected a tomb in memory of his parents but later  met many tragedies with the loss  of his children.   His mother Honora (nee) Shortal died March 5th 1872 aged 70 years and his father John Phelan died July 25th 1876 aged 70 years. His daughter Margaret died Sept 10th 1879 aged 14 years.  His sons John died January 25th 1886 aged 24 years,  Rev. Michael Phelan died July 30th 1894 aged 27 years,  Thomas died Oct 27th 1898 aged 32 years. His wife Elizabeth (nee) Walsh died March 12th 1915 aged 87 years.  Patrick died 26th March 1918 aged 85 years. His daughter Elizabeth Morris died 17th Oct 1916 aged 45 years.  Also his son David Phelan died  20th Sept 1933 aged 76 years. James Phelan died 14th Feb 1938 aged 66 years. Also his daughter  Mary Brennan died 11th March 1939 aged 80 years. Elizabeth Morris died 17th Jan 1985 aged 83 years and Johanna Morris died 22nd Dec 1995.  Elizabeth and Johanna, grand-daughters of Patrick and Elizabeth,  were well known in the locality up to their passing as very gentle, kind and capable ladies.

Index of names appearing on the headstones
Adams, Baron, Barry, Bowe, Brenan, Brennan, Brian, Brown, Butler, Burke, Cahill, Callanan, Carroll, Carthy, Carty, Clancy, Clooney, Cody, Collier, Comerford, Corcoran, Corkoran, Costelloe, Coyle, Culleton, Daughton, Davis, Deady, Delany, Dempsey, Dloughry, Deloughny, Dempsey, Doran, Durney, Egan, Fahey, Fahy,  Fennelly, Field, Fleming, Gorey, Hanrahan, Hearn, Henson,  Holden, Holohan, Houlahan, Howling, Izod, Johnson, Kearney, Keeffe, Kerivan, Kerivaun, Lahey Lannen, Lannon, Lawlor, Lee, Lyons,  McCarthy, McDonald, Maher, Marnell, Martin, Meala, Meighan, Merriman , Morris, Neale, Neill, Nail, O Keeffe, O'Shea, Pendergast, Phelan, Power, Purcell, Robinson, Rowe, Ryan, St. Leger, Shaw, Shee, Sinclair, Shortal, Shortall,  Stephens, Stewart Tobin, Toole, Wallace, Walsh, Waring, Way, Whitaker.

Index of occupations recorded on the memorials
Baron of Danganmore - Richard Comerford.
Lord of Kilree - Thomas Howling.
High Sherriffs - Robert Way, 1802 and 1809, William Henry Izod 1810, William Nixon Izod 1885.
M.C.S - Mr Evans Johnson Esq. 
Priests - Rev Michael Phelan, Rev. Francis Walsh.
Nun - Sr Mary Dominic.
Rector - Reverend Thomas Collier.
E.N.T. - Elizabeth Meighan. 
R.I.C. ex Constable - William Merriman.
T. D. - John Gorey. 

Index of Place names appearing on the memorials
America, Ballinamona, Ballycaum, Barestown, Burnchurch, Callan, Chapelizod, Coolagh, Connecticut, Cotrells Rath, Cottrellsrath, Danganbeg, Danganmore, Dunnamaggan, Dunamaggin, Goodwin's Garden, Goodwinsgarden, High Street Kilkenny, Jerpoint, Jerpoint Abbey, John Street Kilkenny, Kells, Kellsgrange, Kilkenny, Kilkenny (City of), Killeny, Killiney, Kilmaganny, Kilree, Ladyswell, Leixlip, Lemonstown, Liverpool, Merseyside, Newchurch, New London, Newtown, Newtownbaker, Ohio, Oldtown, Olmsted Falls, Ossory,  Patrick Street Kilkenny, Rahallikin, Rathduff, Rathduff Upper, Shortallstown, Stonecarthy,  Stoneford, Stoneyford (sic), Tinvane, Tinvaun, Tinvawn, USA, US, Vermont, Wallslough.

Index of Masons who have signed memorials in this graveyard
Foley Grovine, Gargan Kilkenny, Mullen Kilkenny, Molloy Callan, Hoban Kilkenny, P Hoban Irishtown Kilkenny, Pat O Shea, Callan.  Arthur Malone.

 

Carrved detail of the under arm of the High Cross





 The footfall of visitors or should we say pilgrims to this place is surprising.  People come and go from all over the world.  They arrive quietly and slowly begin to appreciate the beauty of the site, a place to really delight the senses. The wonderment of the enclosure, the craftsmanship, the stone work, the birdsong, that light in both summer and winter which is magical and of course, the solitude,  the peace. They stand still, listen,  look,  take photographs, read a few inscriptions and then slip away.

Columcille, Parish of Thomastown, County Kilkenny

We surveyed this ancient walled graveyard over a period of years between 2015 and 2018.  This is a challenging site to work on but very rewarding.  It is located on the road signposted to Graignamanagh from Thomastown, but is not far out of Thomastown.

 It is accessed across a working farmyard, and then a field where there may be horses loose.  The approach after that is along a grassed boreen, with a small river flowing on the right and leading to a venerable holy well; this is known as St Columkille's Well which lies besides the ruined church.

The spelling of Columkille/Columbcille varies greatly.  The local people gathered still here at the beginning of the 20th century to drink the water and to beseech the intervention of the patron saint of the site.   It is almost a vertical site which makes work hazardous on occasions when it can be difficult to get a firm and safe foot hold; Carrigan (History of the Diocese of Ossory.1904) described the site as "rugged". The graveyard is usually very overgrown but had been partly cleared in early summer of 2015 and totally cleared by 2018.

The clearance of the undergrowth exposed a Flood vault not previously recorded amongst other things.

The Flood Vault. These Floods were from Paulstown Castle.  According to local tradition Henry Flood's hunting jacket was hung on the memorial until it rotted away. Henry Flood died in 1840.

We hoped to find a second War Graves Commission headstone which a local farmer told us stood just beyond the memorial erected by Patrick Ring of Brooklyn (No 4): this part of the graveyard was overgrown,but is now cleared but this second War Grave Commission stone has not been located.. He also reported a stone lying in the river with writing on it; we did not find this stone either.  Two stones recorded in an earlier survey done by Joe Doyle in the 1970s have now totally disappeared, either removed, or broken into bits or totally submerged undergound; they have been included in this current survey for completeness .On the other hand we have found many more stones than listed in the original survey mainly because the site had been cleared of undergrowth and for which we are grateful.
Both Protestants and Catholics are buried here, but predominantly Catholics.  At the entrance to the old graveyard gate (whose original and magnificent piers are lying against the interior wall) and where the remains of the old church are to be found is the following memorial: A prayer for those in purgatory. May the meek and the festive countenance of Christ Jesus appear to thee that he might give thee a place amongst those who are to stand before Him forever.
The parish and the church of Columbkille were appropriated to the Priory of Inistioge by Thomas FitxAnthomy in the early 13th century.  The patron saint of the earliest church that stood here was St Columba, Abbot of Iona. Carrigan reports that in the local Irish language, Columbkille would have been pronounced and sounded like Columba.  Carrigan also reports that this graveyard was known as "Collumbkille (sic), otherwise Kilgriffen in 1631".  He states that St Columbkille's first name in Irish was Crihen or Criffen and by corruption Griffen; hence Kilgriffen and the church of St Columbkille though appearing to be differ are one and the same thing.
The townlands of the parish of Columbkille (in 1905) are:- Ballyroe, Blessington, Carrickmournia, Dangan, Jackstown, Kilcullen, Kiljames Lower, Kiljames Upper, Kilmurry, Knockanroe, Mungmacody and Ruppa; you can expect the people from these townlands to be buried in this graveyard.

Ancient stone style set into the wall in the north east corner

There are two ancient stone styles crossing the enclosing stone walls at differing places, indicating pathways or walk ways across the fields used by people for centuries either to reach the graveyard or to attend Mass in the church.
In all 64 stones or memorials of importance have been recorded or listed. As stated there are two stones listed in an earlier recording which we have not located.  This is an ancient burial site and of the memorials recorded by us we have found 6 dating from the period 1773-1795 and another 20 stones from the period 1800-1849. We have counted over 300 visible stone markers which have been placed to record the burial site of a loved one but these markers have no names or dates; in addition there must be thousands of unrecorded burials here with no markers at all.  A local landowner refers to an adjacent field just behind the holy well, as formerly a burial site but there are no memorials there, although the ground in uneven in places and undulates.  We have drawn out a very detailed map of the old graveyard.  And also have amassed genealogical information on some of the families buried here.

Centre of this picture is the box/table type tomb of the Duigan family.. They were recorded as farmers from Kiljames. One son converted to the Church of Ireland on 19th April 1776 and made a Protestant marriage the next day on 20th April in St James, Dublin.  He did not remain long in the Protestant Church for all his children, 9 of them,  were baptised in the Catholic Church of Thomastown.  We have an extensive genealogy for this family many of whom entered the medical profession..

Indexes to names recorded on memorials
Barron 19                                                     
Blanchfield 23
Bolger 57
Bowers 13
Brennan 17

Bruce 56

Burris 33

Byrne 6,7,43
Cashin 30
Cloney 2
Conway 38
Cullen 50
Culloten 44
Deane 47
Devereaux 39
Doyle 38
Dray 25
Drea 26
Duigan 47
Fitzpatrick 40,42
fleming 55
Flood 5
Foristal 25
Forristal 8, 12
Galway 44
Gaul 13
Gorman 35
Hade 63 (not located)
Hanrahan 14, 15, 44, 46, 48, 50, 51                                           

Hara 35
Hille 26
Hogan 29,30
Hughes 28
Johnson 64 (not located)
Kennedy 45, 46, 54
Lahart 24 (posible)
Lanigan 24 (possible)
Matthews 3
McCarty 20, 21
McDonell 24
Minogue 16, 52, 53
Moore 1, 13
Morris 15
Muldowny 43
Murphy 45
N (stone marked with initials only TN) 49
Naddy 37
Neil 27
O'Keeffe 14. 18
Quirk 40
Reid 38

Reily30                                                                                        

Reilly 34
Riely 29
Ring 4, 27(possible)
Walsh 9, 14, 41


Index to places recorded on the memorials
Balivole 32
Ballyjamesduff 14
Ballymagill 31
Barretstown 2
Blessington 14, 50
Brooklyn 4

Castlefield 18

Castlegarden 44
Collumkill 38
Columbcille 8
Columbkill 12


John Riely  1795 

Columbkill Cross 1

Columbkille 13
Coppena 52
Homeland 14
Jackstown 42
Jerpoint West 16
Kilcross 48
Kilbline 24
Kilfane 21
Kilkenny county 4
Kiljames 14,15,35,47
Kilmacshane 25
Mong 6,7,41,47
Mongmacody 7
Moonteen 19,20
Mung 43
New York 4
Ohio 8
Oldtown 9
Paulstown 5
Paulstown Castle 5
Pleberstown 45
Smithstown 27,29,30,34
Smythstown 28
Strone (on Hade stone but stone not located) 63
The Rower 50
Thomastown 23, 26
Thostown 2
Tullowherin 4


Index of Masons of Blacksmiths who have created memorials in the graveyard
W. Brophy, Kilkenny 44
J. Nolan, Ballon 12
John Kearney, maker 25
Michael Kearney 43
Mullen 48
Mullen, Kilkenny 1
Power, Seanie (blacksmith)19, 20,21,22


Index of Occupations (not always listed on the memorial but information from elsewhere)
Actor 56
Huntsman 5
Military 3, 16
Miller 33, 64
Priest 13, 50, 51
Tinsmith 20

Reflections in St Columkille's  Holy Well

Bessborough Memorials in Derby Cathedral, England

Of the many memorials to the Bessborough family in the mortuary chapel at Fiddown you will not find one to William Ponsonby, the 2nd  Earl of Bessborough, nor his wife Caroline   William who was born in 1704, was the son of Brabazon (created the first Earl of Bessborough in 1739 and a peer of Great Britain).  William according to his memorial in Derby was born in 1704 and married in 1739 Caroline, the eldest daughter of William the 3rd Duke of Devonshire.  At the time of the marriage the Duke of Devonshire was the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1737-1745).  In 1741 the Duke offered William,  and William accepted,  a position as Chief Secretary.  His new father-in-law also recommended him for a place on the Irish Privy Council.  The Duke of Devonshire, or Cavendish family,  are one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England; this was an extremely advantageous marriage.  The Duke of Devonshire still owns vast estates; notably in Ireland Lismore Castle, in county Waterford.  In England the Duke of Devonshire owns Chatsworth House and estates in Derbyshire.   It is therefore entirely within reason that William, the 2nd Earl of Bessborough and his wife should have memorials in All Saints Church, Derby, also known as Derby Cathedral,  and situated in the county town of Derbyshire.  The Cavendish family vault is below the south isle; this was originally made for use by the famous Bess of Hardwick, more properly called Elizabeth Talbot,  Countess Shrewsbury who died in 1608 . Her second husband was Sir William Cavendish who then adopted it as the Cavendish burial place.  This tradition ended in 1858 after which date the Cavendish family were buried at Edensor, near Chatsworth in Derbyshire. 
William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough  had an active political life as he was MP for Newtownards, county Down 1725-1727, MP for Kilkenny 1727-58, MP for the Town of Derby, England, 1742-54,  MP for Saltash, England, 1754-56 and MP for Harwich, England,  1756-58.  He had to vacate these seats in parliament when he succeeded his father to the title of Earl of Bessborough in 1758. William was also an active Freemason. He is specifically mentioned in The Dublin Weekly Journal for 13th March 1730/31 as the Master of "a lodge of Free-Masons held at the Yellow Lyon in Warborough Street on 6th March 1731". See www.irishmasonichistory.com

The memorial to the 2nd Earl of Bessborough in Derby Cathedral. 

This Memorial was created by Joseph Nollekens, one of the most famous and most fashionable portrait sculptors of the time. Nollekens was born in London in 1737, the son of a Flemish painter Josef Frans Nollekens.   The inscription reads " In memory of William Ponsonby, Earl of Bessborough,  A Peer and Privy Counsellor of Great Britain and Ireland.  He was born in 1704 and died in 1793.  He was beloved and respected by all. In Liberality and Charity he was surpassed by none.  In 1739 he married Caroline, Daughter of Wm 3rd Duke of Devonshire, By whom he had Catherine married to Auby, Duke of St Albans, Charlotte married to Wm Earl Fitzwilliam and Frederick who succeeded Him". 
According to Burke's Peerage 1893, Catherine married Aubrey 5th Duke of St Albans; she died in 1789.  Charlotte married the William, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam; she died in 1822.  The above William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough died 11th March 1793.  Frederick, his successor, married in 1780 Lady Henrietta Frances Spencer, the 2nd daughter of John, 1st Earl Spencer.

The memorial to Caroline, Countess of Bessborough in Derby Cathedral.

This magnificent memorial to Caroline, Countess of Bessborough was created by Michael Rysbrack. Rysbrack or Rijsbrack, a Flemish sculptor,  was born in Antwerp in 1694.  He arrived in London in 1720 where he rapidly established himself as the leading sculptor, a position he was to hold until the mid 1740s.   After that he remained one of the top three sculptors in Britain until shortly before his death in 1770.  The above figure of Caroline is most beautifully carved.

The inscriptions reads "To the Memory of CAROLINE, Countess of Bessborough in Ireland and Baroness Ponsonby in England.  She was the eldest Daughter of WILLIAM CAVENDISH, third Duke of Devonshire. She married at Chatsworth WILLIAM PONSONBY, eldest son of BRABAZON late Earl of Bessborough by whom she had eleven Children. Viz  Five sons and Six Daughters. Only three of them (whom God preserve) are now living. CATHERINE married to AUBREY BEAUCLERK only son of VERE, Lord Vere Baron of Hanworth in the County of Middlesex. CHARLOTTE married to WILLIAM Earl Fitzwilliam of Milton in the county of Northampton and FREDERICK commonly called Lord Viscount Duncannon. She died on Sunday the twentieth of January 1760 in the forty first Year of her Age. This Monument is only to be considered as an Endeavour to preserve the Memory of a departed Friend and as an Instance of true Affection and Tribute paid by her much afflicted Husband WILLIAM Earl of Bessborough".

The Coat of Arms on the Memorial to the William, 2nd Earl of Bessborough showing his Earl's coronet.

The inscription on the garland reads  "Pro Rege, Lege. Grege" which means "For the King, the Law and the People"

For other Bessborough Memorials in Ireland see our post Fiddown Church, Parish of Fiddown, posted on 7/10/2017.

A link between Grenan Thomastown and Dunkitt Graveyard Kilmacow Co Kilkenny

Dunkitt Graveyard and the Thomple in Grenan Thomastown

The Denn Burial Ground at Dunkitt Kilmacow consists of 3 Oblisks enclosed within  Iron railings.  The first two monuments are inscribed on the East, West and South sides. The third on the East side only.

Oblisk 1
"Here repose the remains of several of the Den family, before the confiscation of their estates by Cromwell and from the 12th century to the 17th century their forefathers were buried at Grennan in this County. On the other side is inscribed the names of the principal persons of the family interred here.
Requiescant In Pace Amen RSD EREGIT"

"The following have succeeded each other in direct descent Theobald Den of Mullinabro personal victim as was his kinsmen in Grennan of the confiscation of Cromwell. That injustice, nor adversity its consequences, never shook his steadfast principles.  He lived and died in the faith of his ancestors.  Attached to this country and Loyal to his King.  His beloved wife is also interred here.
'Blessed are they that suffer persecution for Justice sake for their is the Kingdom of Heaven Matt V. 10 '.  Laurence Den of Melville, eldest son of the precedin.  He inherited his fathers virtues and like him also was faithful subject to a Dynasty which seldom repressed the wrongs of its friends.
Elizabeth, his wife born Archdekin her name was held in Benediction by the poor.

"Nicholas, son of the last named, died November 1746 a model of edifying piety.  Eleanor his wife, neè De Frayne died March 1763.  Laurence Den of Garrandarra, eldest son of the the preceding, died 13th December 1812, aged 76. An upright virile character an humble Chrisitan Mary Anne, his first born Strange, died 1761, aged 20.  Mary, his second wife born O'Shee, died 1801 aged 66.  The unobstrusive practice of every womanly virtue distinguished her well spent life.  Besides the foregoing heads of the family many of their younger children are also buried here. De PROFUNDIS"

Oblisk 2
Erected by Nicholas Agustus Den of Santa Barbara California. To the memory of his beloved father Emmanuel Den of Garrandara, Co Kilkenny, who died April 20th 1840 aged 72 years.  Deceased was the eldest son of laurence Den of Garrandara.  REQUIESCANT IN PACE"


Oblisk 3
" In special memory of Catherine Den born O'Shee the beloved wife of Emanuel Den of Garrandarra ESQ.,  died November 4th 1860 aged 73 yeqars. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Matthew V. 5. Through many tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom  of God
 Act  X1V.21  Give her O Lord eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.  Their eldest surviving son Richard S. Den M.D., California erected this monument to her revered name so well remembered in his heart