Aughmacart Graveyard: Clarmallagh Barony; Aghmacart Parish; Abbeyleix Poor Law Union/Registration District.
Notes from Laois Archaeological Survey:
OS 34:8:1 (760,380) ‘Castle and priory (in Ruins), Grave yard’ OD 300-400 23308,17450. A monastery is said to have been founded here in 550 (Carrgan, 1905, vol. 2, 235). Records indicate that it was burnt in 1156 and that an Augustinian priory was established before 1168 by MacGillapatrick, Lord of Ossory (Gwynn and Hadcock, 1970, 156). Only the NE angle of a medieval building (dims 10.4m E-W, 7.2m N-S, wall T 1m.) with a base-batter and built of limestone blocks survives. A modern building is attached to it. Pieces of masonry and architectural fragments are visible just N of the Protestant church which lies to SSW. A burial vault to the SE is possibly of seveteenth origin (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 239) but has been modernised. Originally a gateway to the priory was situated to NW and a well to SW (ibid) The church tower depicted by Grose (ibid., 236) appears to have been misconstrued as a castle, and was thus recorded on OS maps. 34:19 (03). 8-10-1990.
Graveyard accessed off the Rathdowney to Cullohill Road: just past Aughmacart Crossroads
Barton: Book Tablet: Barton Margaret E. 1873-1935/Barton Hoysted B.L. 1861- 1950/Their son Isaac Norton 1903-1988 In loving Memory/Ballinphrase.
Purcell: continuing Edmund Purcell grave in Aughmacart: Haven’t found original yet!! His son Patrick Purcell died 1891 aged ?/
Purcell/Maher: Erected by/Joseph Maher/Coolkerry/ in memory of/Edward Purcell/died 20th March 1907 aged 83 years/Also his wife/Catherine Purcell alias Maher/died 2nd Nov 1907 aged 88 ears
Horahan/Drennan: Here lies the body of Silvester Ho?/han died the year 1765 aged 54 yrs also/his wife Bridget Horahan als Drennan/died the year 1780 agd 60 yrs/and their daughter Catherine died at the age of 30
Horahan: Here lies the body of Malick Horahan/Daniel Horahan/ Denis Horahan can’t make out rest of stone
Fannin: Here lies the body of James Fannin who depd this life Octbr ?? 18?? Aged 62 yrs May God have mercy on his soul Amen.
Walsh/Dunfy: Erected by John Walsh in memory of his/father brothers ? Bridget Walsh /als Dunfy departed this life Feb ?/ 1768 aged 37 years/Martin Walsh depd this life Feby 16th 1806 aged?? Years/Richd Walsh died ? April 30th 1807 aged /3 yrs/
Clancy/Bergin: Erected by/ Iwran Clancy of Raplagh/in memory of his father, John Clancy/who depd this life March 18th 1846 aged 90 yrs/also his wife Sarah Clancy, alias Bergin/who depd this life June 6th 1816 aged 49 years/John Clancy Ballydavin, died Nov 30th 1965 aged 65 years/May their souls rest in peace Amen.
Clancy/Keenan: Erected by John Clancy of Raphlow/in memory of his wife Elizabeth/Clancy als Keenan who depd this /life June 6th 1895/6 aged 63 years/Also his son Willm Clancy/who depd this life August 26th 1815/13/aged 15 years
McCormick/Tynan/Maher: Erected by Thos McCormick in memory/of his father Richd McCormick who depd Nov 16th 1808 aged 63 years/Also his mother Mary McCormick alias/Tynan who depd July 5th 1829 aged 60 years/And his brother Patk McCormick who /depd April 24th 1824 Aged 36 years/ Small stone on this plot: Sister /Margaret Mary Maher died 24th May 1928/RIP
Maher: Another stone on this family Plot: In loving memory of/The Maher Family Rapla/Denis Maher/born 1863-died 14th July 1941/his wife Margaret /born 1889 died 3rd April 1977/Their daughter Mary/born 28th Oct 1913 died 21st may 1928/Their son Thomas /born 14th May 1922 died 26th Jan 1959/Their daughter Elizabeth (Betty) /born 19th Nov 1919 died 2nd Oct 1990/RIP
Kenny/Whelan: Erected by Edward Kenny/of Aughmacart. In memory of/his father Edward Kenny who depd /this life Dec 22nd 1858 . aged 68 years/Also his mother Judy Kenny alias Whelan who depd this life August 15th /1838 aged ?? years/Also his brother/John Kenny who depd this life march /5th or 7th 1816 or 1811 aged 20 years. His sister Judy/died young.
Kenny/Keenan: In loving memory of/Edward Kenny, Ballydavin died 28th June 1975, aged 66 years/ His wife Anne (nee Keenan) /died 2nd Dec 1995, aged 82 years/His sister Elizabeth, died 5th July 1995 aged 84 years/
Aughmacart notes: – Old Transcription?, Photographed 23rd March 2008, Photos transcribed : 13th – 14th July 2008, Number of stones : ~ 48, Number legible: ~30-31.
BARTON : Tablet Barton / Henry Fitzgerald / 1902 – 1971 / Fond / Remembrance / Ballinphrase
BARTON : Tablet Side 1: Barton, / Margaret E. / 1873-1935. Side 2: Barton, / Hoysted B. L. / 1861-1950 Across both sides : Their son / Isaac Norton / 1903 – 1988 In Loving Memory / Ballinphrase
BEALE: Erected by / The Family in / Loving Memory of / Bridget Beale / Coolkerry died 16th / ?May 19(3 or 8)6 aged 56 yrs / Sacred Heart of Jesus / Have Mercy on her Soul / R.I.P.
BOODEN – very difficult to read Here lieth the body of John Booden ?? / ?????????? ?July 1776 ?aged ??? / ???? Judith Booden ????? / aged ?65 ?????? Booden
BRACKEN, WHELAN, CAMPION Plot
Stone 1: In Loving Memory of / Philip (Bill) Bracken / Gurteen / Died June 20th 1976, aged 84 yrs / His wife Mary / died March 31st, 1986, aged 86 yrs
Stone 2 : In Loving Memory / of / Joseph Bracken / Rapla, / died Oct 16th 1927, aged 76 yrs / His wife Anastasia / died May 30th 1947, aged 84 yrs / Their daughter / Anastasia Whelan / died July 3rd 1959, aged 61 yrs / His Grandson / Frank Campion / died April 30th 1973 / Aged 50 yrs. / R.I.P.
Stone 3: In / Loving Memory / of / Kathleen Bracken, Rapla / died Mar 4th 1972, aged 68 yrs / Her husband Patrick / died Aug 29th 1972, aged 73 yrs. / R.I.P.
BROPHY: In Loving Memory of / Edward Brophy / died Aug 23rd 1941, aged 74 yrs / His Wife / Catherine Brophy / died Sept ?6th 1973, aged 99 yrs
CLANCY: Stone 1. In Loving Memory of the / Clancy Family Ballydavin / John and his wife Mary / Their sons Jack and Martin / Their daughter Bridget and Josie No dates. S. O’Brien, Durrow – stonemason
CLANCY, BERGIN: Gloria in Excelsis Deo / Erected by Kyran Clancy of Raplagh / in memory of his father John Clancy / who depd this life March 18th 1816, aged 90 years / Also his Wife Sarah Clancy alias Bergin / who depd this life June 16th 1816. Aged 19 years. / John Clancy, Ballydavin, died Nov 30th 1965, aged 65 yrs. / Josie Clancy, Ballydavin, died 14th Feb 2001, aged 91 yrs.
DELANEY – covered in white lichen can’t read the stone much Sacred to / the Memory of / John Delaney ??? / ??? / also his wife ? ?Margaret Delaney / ???????
DUNPHY: Of your charity / pray for the souls of / Edward Dunphy / and of Mary Dunphy (his wife) / of Oldtown the former of whom died / Jan ?4th 18?16 aged 86 years / the latter Nov ?28th ??? aged ?86 yrs / also the souls / their daughter Catherine Dunphy / who died ?? 11th 1832 / aged ?? ? Mary Dunphy who died / March ??? aged ?? / ?Bernard Dunphy ?????? / ?? / ?Michael Dunphy ? ?? / ?? / Bottom of Stone new plaque: In Memory of / Margaret Dunphy, Upper Oldtown / died 27 Jan 1975, aged 80 yrs / her husband Michael / died 2 Feb 1979, aged 88 yrs
FITZPATRICK: Pray for the souls of the Fitzpatrick / family interred in this vault
KELLS In Loving memory of / Mary Kells / died Aug 4th 1917 / Her brother Michael died March 30th 1933 / Their parents / Elizabeth Kells / died March ?19th 19?48 / James Kells / died March 25th 195?8 / R.I.P.
KENNY, KEENAN plot – another stone beside it not photographed properly and not indexed!
Stone 1 : In Loving memory of / Edward Kenny, Ballydavin / died 28th June 1975, aged 66 yrs / His wife Anne (nee Keenan) / died 2nd Dec 1995, aged 82 yrs / His sister Elizabeth / died 5th July 1995. Aged 84 yrs. / R.I.P.
LODGE – covered in white lichen can’t read the stone Bridget Lodge????????????????????????
MAHER In loving memory / of / Patrick Maher / Cullohill Mountain / died 20th July, 1950 / His wife bridget (nee Ryan) / died 17th Oct 1986 / His father John / died 9th Sept 1914 / His mother Kate (nee Dollard) / died 5th Dec 1927 / R.I.P.
MAHONY – stone & tablet
Erected by / William Mahony / of Cullohill in / memory of his beloved wife / Sarah Mahony alias Menton / who died Oct 29th 1888 / Also her father and mother / and sister who is also / interred here. / The above William Mahony / died Nov 15th 1899 / Aged 83 years / Gone but not forgotten / Laurence Mahony / (Mainbog) / died 24th June 1942 aged 75 yrs / R.I.P.
Tablet : Side 1: In loving / Mary Mahony / Boston, Cullohill / died Jan 1st, 1975 / Aged 70 years / R.I.P.
Side 2: Memory of / her husband / Joseph / died 4th nov 1982 / Aged 84 yrs. / R.I.P. / Erected by / Their family.
(In loving Memory of / Mary Mahony / Boston, Cullohill / Died 1st Jan 1975 / Aged 70 yrs / her husband Joseph / died 4th 1982 / aged 84 yrs / R.I.P. / Erected by / Their family)
MAHER, McCORMACK plot
Stone 1 : In loving memory of / The Maher family, Rapla / Denis Maher / born 1863 died 14th July 1941 / His wife Margaret / born 1889 died 3rd April 1977 / Their daughter Mary / born 28th Oct 191?3 or 8, died 21st May 1928 / Their son Thomas / born 14th May 1922 died 26th Jan 1959 / Their daughter Elizabeth (Betty) / born 19th Nov 1919 died 2nd Oct 1990. / R.I.P.
Stone 2: Erected by Thos McCormack in memory / of his father Richd McCormack who depd / Nov ?16th 1808. Aged 63 yrs. / Also his mother Mary McCormack alias / Tynan who depd July 5th 1829. Aged 60 yrs. / And his brother Patk McCormack who / depd April 24th 18? 4. Aged 36 yrs.
Plaque at base of stone: Sister Margaret Mary Maher / died 24th May 1928 / R.I.P.
McEVOY In Remembrance of / John McEvoy, Aughmacart / died 20th Dec 1969 aged 74 yrs / His sister Elizabeth / died 6th Feb 1965, aged 72 yrs / His son Sean / died April 1961 aged 6 months
McEVOY: In / Loving memory of / James McEvoy, Rapla / died 12th Aug 1972 aged 79 yrs / His wife Mary McEvoy / nee Hanley / died 15th June 2000 aged 88 years / his parents / Patrick McEvoy, Knockfin / and Mary McEvoy / nee O’Hara / died 14th Nov 1923 aged 72 years / Also his brothers / Fintan McEvoy / died 6th July 1946 aged 60 years / Patrick McEvoy / died 9th March 1964 aged 72 years / Rest in Peace / Erected by the family
MEEHAN plot – one stone can’t be read in photo
Stone 1: In Loving memory of / James Meehan, Ross / died ?Feb ?? ?1977 / ????
NEILL plot
Stone 1: In / loving memory of / Michael Neill / died 7th Feb 1921, aged 65 yrs / Mary Anne Neill / died 19th July 1922, aged 66 yrs / Annie Neill / died 12th Jan 1952 aged 40 yrs / Mary Neill / died 15th Mar 1971 aged 82 yrs. / R.I.P.
Stone 2: In / Loving memory of / Margaret Neill / died 1st Jan 1970 aged 68 yrs / Her husband John / died 18th July 1970 aged 71 yrs / His brother Michael / died 25th Dec 1975, aged 82 yrs. R.I.P.
ROBERTS – 2 stones
Stone 1: Erected by / Richard Roberts / (?Cullohill) in memory of his father / Richard S. Roberts / who died ?24th Aug ?1900 aged 79 years / and his mother / Mary Roberts N.T. who died 30th March ?1903 aged ?48 years / and is interred in Durrow / also his brother / Michael Roberts / Radio Officer lost at sea / Dec 1940 aged 45 years / His wife Mary Roberts / died 22nd Feb ?1953 aged ?60 years / The above Richard Roberts / died 13th ?? 1979 aged ?81 years / R.I.P.
Stone 2: Top part illegible. And his son Richd (Dick) Roberts / who died 26th Oct 1855 aged 76 yrs / and his Grandsons Richard Roberts / who died in Rathdowney 4th Nov 188? / aged 52 years / and John died July 1893 / his great grandson Richard (Dick) Roberts.
SPENCER: In Loving memory of / William Spencer / Aughmacart / died 17th June 1942, aged 54 yrs / His wife Julia / died 13th Dec 1967, aged 77 yrs. / R.I.P.
YOUNG – Table tomb, difficult to read – William Young, Oldtown / who died November 18?46, / aged 80 years / ???? / Joseph Young