Tuesday 23 February 2016

Derrynahinch Graveyard, Parish of Ballyhale

The small graveyard of Derrynahinch lies well off the beaten track down a remote country lane and  is accessed across a field that may have cattle in it..  It is not always visible from the lane but the small gate onto the lane has a cross on it - always a sign that a graveyard is within  The graveyard lies within the Roman Catholic Parish of Ballyhale.  This is a very old walled graveyard with a ruined mid 12th century church; it appears neglected but a Mass is said here annually. It is full of uninscribed stone grave markers, fallen and broken stones and rabbit warrens; the terrain can be uneven in parts,   Bernie and I surveyed the graveyard in August 2011 and at that time there were 33 memorials visible: the earliest headstone dates form 1710.
The names appearing on the headstones are:-

Anderson, Aylward, Barron, Brenan, Brennan, Clooney, Cody, Doran, Dwyer, Everit, Fagan, Forestall, Foristall, Forstall, Grant, Hanrahan, Hicky, Holden, Holehan ,Holihan, Holohan, Kearen, Kirk, Lahey, Madigan, Maguire, Maher, Moresy  Morisy, Mullan,  Murphy, O'Gorman, O'Keeffe, O'Neill, O'Sullivan, Raftis, Reid, Ryan, Walsh, Walshe, Welsh.   All the spelling is copied exactly from the headstones. 
The places recorded on the memorials are:-





Ballyconway, Ballybray, Baunskeha, Carrick on Suir, Castlebanny, Castlecosker, Castlegannon, Derrynahinch, Derrynahinch House, Kilcarrig (Carlow), Kilcullen, Kilbline, Kilkeasy, Kilmacshane, Kiltorcan, Knockmoylan, Knocktopher, Sheepstown.






The Kilkenny Board of Health and Public Assistance Register of Internments for Derrynahinch records 31 burials in the period 1941 -2006.   11 people recorded in the Internment Register as being buried at Derrynahinch in this period do not appear on any headstone. These people died between 1941-1964; all people dying after 1967 appear on a headstone.   Interestingly though some people recorded on headstones within the same period (1941-2006) are NOT in the Internment Register so have not been buried here despite being recorded on a headstone.  In the case for example of the O'Sullivan headstone 2 people have been recorded on the headstone who are not in the Internment Register, but the headstone only give the dates of death without recording where that death took place or where that person might be buried.    The caretaker or registrar has sometimes recorded the incorrect spelling of a surname such as Reade for Reid.


But wait!   There are yet more people buried here, that we know about, without headstones or any memorial.  The following is taken from the The Power O'Shee Papers(J.F. Ainsworth) in Analecta Hibernica No 20 1958, pages 216-258.  A list of births and deaths taken out of my father's William Shee's prayer book, written by him and by his father James Shee of Derrynahinch - notes by Mary Kennedy (August 31 1759) born Shee.   These births and deaths start in 1684 and in all there are 50 entries but I have only recorded those referring to burials at Derrynahinch. The spelling is as given in the notebook.
No 26.  My son George was born March 5th 1738. The child being weak was christened by Father James Prendergast, a Carmelite Friar.......My son died 10th June following and is buried near the vault in which my father lies at Derrynehinch.
No 28. My daughter Margaret was born 6th December 1743......my said daughter died the 8th September following  and is buried at Derrynehinch.
No 30.  Father Mark Shee died 10th April 1734 and is buried at Derrynehinch.
No 31.  My sister Margaret Lennon died 6th June 1734 in childbed. The Lord be merciful to her soul . And is intered in Derrynehinch.
No  37.  Monday 31st December 1753, my cossin Captain John Henesy of Bulkeley's Regt., died at Sheepstown of an obstruction in his livers and is buried at Derrynehinch.  Pray God have mercy on his soul. ( Bulkeley's Regiment was one of the Irish Regiments in the French Army.  The Battle of Fontenoy was fought in 1745 and it was thanks to men of the six Irish Regiments forming the Irish Brigade that the French were successful in defeating the British at this battle). Elsewhere there is another note "Captain John Hennesy who lies at Derrynehinch without a stone to mark where he rests was one of those who composed Balkeys (sic) Regiment at Fontenoy."
No 41.  January 13th 1756, my daughter Kennedy was brought to bed of a son called John....the said child died and is buried at Derry.
No 46.   My dear sister Eliza Clarke died May 15th 1762......and is buried in the churchyard at Derryhinch by the side of the vault.  May she rest in peace.
No 47.  My dearest father William Shee of Sheepstown departed this life 26th July 1758 being St Anne's Day, in the 64th year of his age......He lies buried in the vault that is in Derryhinch churchyard in which vault his father and mother was laid.
No 49.   My dearest Mother, Mrs Mary Shee departed this life May 30th 1773....in the 73th of her age....She is buried by my father's side in the churchyard of Derryhinch.
There is now absolutely no sign of the Shee vault but it must lie near the church. Perhaps the entrance to the vault was a flat flagstone that is now completely covered up.  The vault may also have been full and therefore sealed up.







28 comments:

  1. My family connections were Hanrahan from Ballyhale and Aylward from Bawnskeha, Pleberstown....

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    1. My family connections were Collins from Ballyhale,

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    2. I too have Hanrahan connections from Ballyhale also Bawnskeha ...

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  3. Apologies for the delay on replying. Have been away on holiday. I will post the Aylward and Hanrahan entries for you tomorrow. I believe the Aylwards of Bawnskeha may be related to those of Derrynahinch and Knocktopher.
    Mary

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  4. The two Aylwards headstones at Derrynahinch are as follows:-
    No 14. A very large and ornate stone decorated with a sunburst design containing an IHS surrounded by Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Erected by Edwd Aylward of Knocktopher in memory of his father Patk Aylward who depd this life May 3rd 1793 aged 50 years. Also his son James Aylward who depd this life Dec 14 1820 aged 26 years.
    No 15. Immediately to the right of the above headstone is an older and smaller stone again ornately carved with a sunburst decoration containing an IHS decoration on each side of which are two boxed hourglasses topped by skulls and a cross. The skull on the left has 7 teeth and the skull on the right only 5 teeth! It says - Here lieth ye body of John Aylward of Kilbline who departed July ye 8th 1756 aged 57 years. Also the body of his father Edmond Aylward. Richard and Patrick his brothers. Requiescant in Pace Amen (this last line covered by tree roots). It is obvious that these two headstones relate to the same Aylward family.
    The Hanrahan reference relates to information given to me by a member of the O'Hanrahan family about a Barron of Raheendore burial circa 1914 for an Andrew Barron for whom no headstone exists. This was a winter burial near St Stephen's day and in severe weather with 4 to 5 feet of snow. coffin taken by horse and cart as no trap could get down there due to adverse conditions.....Please do contact us about your Pleberstown/Bawnskeha Aylwards
    Mary

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  5. Very interested as to who the additional names were on the O'Sullivan - monarue headstone. This headstone is the earliest ice traced on my tree (8th generation)

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  6. Hello Mark
    The details on the O`Sullivan headstone at Derrinahinch are as follows; In loving memory of
    William Sullivan died 26th Dec 1974
    His wife Anastasia died 15th June 1979
    His brother John died Aug 1940
    His brother Denis died 1950
    Rest in Peace
    We also have details of three O`Sullivan Tombs at Knocktopher details;
    Agnes O`Sullivan Derrinahinch died 31st October 1988 aged 60 yrs.
    Her brother in law William Charles Edwards died 28th April 1992 interred in England.
    Her sister Kathleen O`Sullivan died 5th Nov 2007
    This stone erected by william and Mary Edwards...
    2nd O`Sullivan stone
    John O`Sullivan Derrynahinch died 11th Aug 1969 aged 52 yrs. His parents John O`Sullivan died 27th Nov 1935 Mary O`Sullivan died 16th january 1939, His wife Joan O`Sullivan Nèe Lannon died 24th Jan aged 2003 aged 81.
    3rd O`Sullivan
    Peter O`Sullivan Ballyhale 1938 - 2005 age 67 Reunited with his wife Pat for a cup of tea and a nice long chat goodnight God bless.

    There is an O`Sullivan family headstone at St Brendan's Churchyard Stoneyford see historicgraves.ie KK-BRST-015
    Another O`Sullivan Monarue Headstone at St Kierans graveyard Stonecarthy
    Stoneyford again historicgraves.ie tomb KK-SKSC-030
    We feel all these families are related and perhaps you can give us more information about them.
    Most of the men in this family were gardeners generation after generation mainly on the Flood Estate Floodhall and Mount Juliet Estate with the Earls of Carrrick and the McCalmont family.
    I met a lovely O`Sullivan family recently visiting from Nova Scotia perhaps they are related to you.
    Hope all this is helpfulkind regards
    Mary and Bernie

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  7. Hello Mark. This is stone no 21. "In loving memory of William O'Sullivan died 26 Dec 1974. His wife Annstasia (sic) died 15th June 1979. His brother John died Aug 1940. His brother Dennis died 1950. Rest in Peace". The Kilkenny Board of Health Internment Register for Derrynahinch records Denis(sic) Sullivan (sic), male, aged 66, catholic, single of Thomastown, died January 12th 1949 and buried January 14th 1949. This may be the Denis recorded on the stone as dying in 1950? We do not know. William Sullivan, male 84 years, catholic and a farmer, married is described as of Castlegannon died 27th Dec(sic) 1974 and buried 28th Dec 1974. The register records Statia Sullivan, female aged 83 years, catholic, a farmer, married of Castlegannon died 15th June (no year recorded) and was buried 17th June (no year recorded). John is not in the register. Is this the family you descend from. Hope this helps.
    Mary and Bernie

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  8. Hello Mary & Bernie
    I would be interested in the Cody inscription please
    Regards
    Majella

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  9. Hello Majella, thank you for visiting our site. The stone you want at Derrynahinch is a Holden stone and reads:- "Erected by John Holden of Kilcullin (or maybe Kiltorcan - stone very difficult to read) in memory of his beloved wife Mary Holden alias Cody who depd this life April 21st 1851 aged 39 years".
    Bernie and Mary

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  10. Hi Bernie & Mary
    Many thanks for that. I was looking for a connection with Cody's of Ballydowan or Earlsgrove - don't think this is it.
    A James Holden, Brownsbarn married Mary Cody in Feb 1832, had 10 children all addresses given as Kilcullen.
    Regards
    Majella

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  11. Thank you for the information Majella
    Mary and Bernie

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  12. Hello,
    I am curious about the names Walsh/Welsh and Doran. John Walsh possibly married to Ann Doran were sponsors on an ancestors baptismal in Ballyhale. I am guesstimating they were born about 1800. This is a long shot, as there are no Hurly or Cahil's listed above. Kind Regards

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    1. My ggran uncle was known as Johnny Collins,from Ballyhale. His wife was also known as Ellen Welsh of the Welsh mountains

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  13. Hi bernie & mary,
    May i first congratulate you both on the amazing work that ye are doing to keep a record of these graveyards in kilkenny and helping people to find information about their relatives.Its truly invaluable work, well done. Me and my sister went looking for Derrynahinch graveyard about two years ago and although we were very near it on the day failed to find it even though we from down the road in Mullinavat.i am trying to find the burial place of my grand-father Neddie Anderson who we believe may be buired in either Derrynahinch or Knockmoylan as he was from the Kilkeasy, Lukeswell area. I would be very interested in any information you might have on the ANDERSON headstone in Derrynahinch please if possible or any ideas on where i could go to find out where my grand father is buired?. I know that his parents were a George Anderson and a Mary CASS, and thats about it im afraid.ALL THE ANDERSON side of the family are now sadly deseased.Any help would be greatly appreciated.either way may i say again well done on the work you both are doing, i know that a lot of these small graveyards around are neglected and overgrown but thanks to the work you do and more like you around Ireland they are at least being recorded,
    yours sincerly,
    Kevin .

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    1. Hi Kevin, If you see this I'm not related to the Andersons but one of my Grants from Killahy eloped to Australia in the 1850's with his Anderson ( of Lukeswell) sweetheart. She was a servant on their farm and Bartholomew Grant gave up his engagement to another local girl and got married in London and they settled in Australia where you have hundreds of cousins. George your great grandfather is likely a nephew of the Anastasia Anderson (1854-1906) I'm reffering to above.

      Likewise congratulations from a fellow Cat on the the great work you have done and continue to do Bernie and Mary. If you ever need a hand I'd be happy to help around Kilkenny.

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  14. Morning Kevin,
    Thank you for finding our blog and your kind words and you are living only down the road from us.
    We can tell you
    George Anderson married Mary Cass in Ballyhale Parish Church on 28th January 1868.
    George's father is listed as John Anderson.
    Further Mary Cass had a sister Ellen and she married also in Ballyhale and lived in Coolmean Ballyhale and later in the village.
    Ellens grandson is living in Ballyhale and I can arrange for you to meet him over a cup of tea at Billy's Tearooms.
    Looking forward to meeting you and your sister.
    Kind regards
    Mary and Bernie

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    1. Hi Bernie,
      Thank you for that information and it would be great to meet up with Ellens grandson in Ballyhale sum day, i will contact you again soon to arrange a day and time that might suit,
      Thanx again ,
      kevin.

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    2. Whenever suits just let me know
      Your grandfather is well remembered locally as you probably know he was a class of a poet and spoke in rhyming couplets with the addition of great wit.
      Mary and Bernie

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  15. Hi Bernie and Mary
    I would be very interested in any detail of the O'Gorman inscription. Several of the O'Gormans became blacksmiths. Some stayed in the area but a few emigrated to the United States.
    Kind regards
    Vivien

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  16. Kevin Anderson. .09/06/2022. Patrick aAnderson is buried in knockmoylan which is probably his brother whose father was George and Mary . He was born 1879 Edward was born 1876 if that any good to you . Patrick was my grandfather.lena.

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  17. Hi Lena thanks for that, your grandfather patrick would have been my grand-uncle, as his brother edward was my father patrick anderson from mulinavat,s father, my grandfather, indeed my father was called after patrick anderson, you were related to jack anderson and patrick anderson and ellen etc from lukeswell ??

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  18. I am Margaret or aggie as she was called wad my mother she died In 1961 age 52 she was married to a fitzpatrick from acres my brother lives in lukeswell . Thanks for the info ..I am in leixlip.

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  19. Lena here kevin the I shouldn't have been before Margaret sorry I never said my name .I'm not very good at texting .

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  20. Hi I am looking in to my gt granparents who were married at Ballyhale in 1889 their names were John Russell and hanora quinlan I am now trying to find their place of rest can anyone help

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