This page features a complete record of Curraclone gravestone transcriptions, recorded exclusively by Dr. Jane Lyons and From-Ireland.net.

Curraclone: Stradbally Barony; Curraclone Parish; Athy Poor Law Union/Registration District

Photographed this graveyard 2006. Think I may have more than I have here. Couldn’t get at flat stones fro blackberry bushes when I did the transcription. Said I could see door of church on tape!

Notes from Laois Archaeological Survey: Note: I amn’t too sure that this is same church – may possibly be other farther down road which I couldn’t find. Ned to check Maps.

OS 14:11;5 (592, 186) ‘Church (in Ruins), Grave yard’. OD 200-300 26034,19832
Early Ecclesiastical Remains. Church marked on the 1563 map of Leix and Offaly (Hore, 1863, f.p. 345).
Present remains consist of a later church: only W gable with doorway is clearly visible, the N and S walls are indistinguishable due to heavy overgrowth.
A family vault of the Walshes of Ballykilcavan, dated 1794, lies at E end.
An earlier church once stood here (O’Hanlon and O’Leary, 1907, vol. 1, 223).
An early Christian cross-slab with a simple Latin cross on E face was found among uninscribed gravestones in W half of graveyard.
A gravestone immediately N of it is a reused architectural fragment, possibly from the earlier church.
A substantial enclosure, retained by an external stone wall, surrounds the graveyard.
A further earthen bank with a shallow external fosse to N, enclosing the Glebe land on 1841 OS 6” map, may be the remains of an outer enclosure.
(Fitzpatrick, 1991, 213-5).
14:35
23-5-94Very overgrown, nettles, brambles, – Church is gone.

Went to this one straight after Vicarstown according to tapes as I listen to them again in 2006.

Shaughnessy: I.H.S./Erected by Dennis Shaughnessy ./ Ballykillcavan/In memory of his two children / Hariet & ./Bridget Shaughnessy, / who died Oct `16th 1855,/aged 2 years./ Also the above Denis Shaughnessy. / died Jany 10th 1896 aged 85 yrs./ and his wife Mary, / died Feb 15th 1905, aged 75 yrs.

Two big stone markers beside this. Lots of others scattered around. Gravemarkers might be part of the church – no, church is there also!

Flat stone: broken Linch: Here lieth the remains of Ann Linch / who departed this life the 16th of June 18?06 / aged 20 years.

Frazer: In / affectionate remembrance of / Alfred Frazer / who died November 14th 1942 / Aged 67 years. / His wife / Sarah Ann Jane died May 30th 1972. / Their son /William Alfred/died July 15th 1968/With Christ ??? better/ Philipines 1.23

Big family plot – bodies but no stones saying who is who.

Flat stones – can’t get at them for blackberry bushes and nettles.

Higgins: Gloria in Excelsius Deo /Erected by John Higgins of Kilrony/in memory of his sons Denis/Higgins died the 7th of April 184?6/aged 19 years/Also Jeremiah Higgins died the /2nd Dec 183/57 aged 20 years. Stone covered in lichens.

Whelan: I.H.S./In loving memory/of/George Whelan, Inch/who died 2nd Oct 1934/His wife Mary /died 15th Nov 1924/Their sons/Thomas died 12th Aug 1960/Patrick died 8th May 1963/Their daughters/Agnes died July 1963/Mary died 29th March 1968/Andrew died 29th March 1975/RIP

Brennan: Here lies the body of /Maurice M. Brennan/October ye 4th 1778 – stone is falling over.

Kelly: I.H.S. Here lies the body of Cathn/Kelly who depd this life Jany 20th 1806 Aged 52 yrs/Also her husband James Kelly/who depd this life ?1834 Aged ?8 years. Lord have mercy on their souls Amen.

Delany: I.H.S./In loving memory/of William Delany, Merrymount, died 1880/his wife Margaret/died 1919 aged 85 yrs/His daughter Kate /died 1896 aged 16 yrs./His son Matthew/ died Sept 1938 aged 68 yrs/Emily wife of Matthew/died Nov 23rd 1953/aged 78 yrs/His son Patrick died Jany 15th 1956 aged 78 yrs/& his wife, Julia died Jany 3rd 1935/Aged 58 yrs./Also Williams Grandchildren/ John & Bernard died young/Margaret died May 7th 1959 aged 39 yrs/William died Jany 1st 1979 /Aged 72 yrs/Thomas Delaney /died 25th July 1989, aged 81 years./RIP