Gravestone Transcriptions
Drumcliffe Cemetery: Clare Roots Society under the direction of John Bradley are about to commence stage 2 (Calvary) of recording the gravestones (19-Nov-2011). This will entail:
- Receiving a map of your section.
- Photographing Gravestones:
- Transcribing inscriptions to a word document.
- Returning to manually recording unreadable headstones.
We need approximately 11 individual (or couples) willing to take on a section of 50 graves approximately. A brief session will take place for all participants prior to commencing. We would hope to have it completed by the end of January 2012. You would carry out the recording at a suitable time to yourself.
Unfortunately Clare County Council have mislaid 10 years of records within this section of the Cemetery so our work will be of immense value to future generations.
You can view our previous work with regard to Drumcliff at:
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/drumcliff_old_graveyard_ennis.htm
Drumcliff Cemetery, Ennis
Our biggest project to date, completed in 2008 with the assistance of a grant from the Heritage Council of Ireland, involved transcription of the gravestones in the old Drumcliff Cemetery. Drumcliff is the major burial ground for Ennis and environs. A group of ten Clare Roots members and a group of school children from the local Ennis National School photographed and transcribed all the graves by hand. The photos and the gravestone information are now available on the Clare Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/drumcliff_old_graveyard_ennis.htm . Following on from experience gained in transcribing the gravestone in Old Drumcliff, the gravestones in a number of other cemeteries in the Ennis area have now been recorded:
Corrovorrin Graveyard, Ennis
In its ongoing activity of recording gravestone inscriptions in Clare, the Clare Roots Society undertook the work in Corrovorrin Cemetery, Ennis in March 2010. A group of volunteers came forward:
- Larry Brennan
- Michael Falvey
- Eric & Breda Shaw
- Frank Barry
- Olive Paradis & Kathleen Ryan
- Jennifer Morgan
- John Bradley
- Donal Fitzpatrick
- Mary & Gerry McMahon
Corrovorrin is a small graveyard surrounded by a rubble stone wall and has an attractive entrance and stile. The gravestones date from the early 1800s. A map showing that there were over 190 graves to be recorded and photographed.
This cemetery is maintained and only a few broken headstones were noted. Many fine examples of stone-cutting were found particularly on the recumbent tombstones, with ornate decoration and lettering. Most of the stones were of local limestone. The volunteers gave second opinions to each other on the interpretation of the wordings and some of the volunteers went back again and again to view the lettering in different lighting conditions. A number of the stones have fallen forward concealing the inscriptions. It is hoped that these will be reset.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/corrovorrin_graveyard_ennis2010.htm
Feenagh Graveyard, Sixmilebridge:
The Clare Roots Society transcribed the gravestones in Feenagh Cemetery, Sixmilebridge in May 2010. The work was handled by Eric & Breda Shaw.
The Society produced a map showing that there were about 50 graves to be recorded and photographed.
Feenagh cemetery is well maintained. Some fine examples of stone-cutting were found particularly on the recumbent tombstones, with ornate decoration and lettering. Most of the stones were of local limestone and date from 1717. They number about 62 and there are almost 100 in unidentified stone grave-markers. That work has now been completed and it is hoped that the findings will be of interest to the local community and to genealogists locally and much further afield. Scattered over the cemetery are rough stones marking the graves of deceased persons. Clare Roots Society wishes to record its gratitude to those volunteers who undertook the work.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/feenagh_graveyard_sixmilebridge.htm
Old Ballysheen Graveyard, Sixmilebridge:
The Clare Roots Society transcribed the headstones in Old Ballysheen Cemetery, Sixmilebridge in May 2010. A group of volunteers came forward:
• Eric & Breda Shaw
• Michael McNamara
Michael McNamara generously gave of his time and skills honed from many years of transcribing gravestone inscriptions for the Sliabh Aughty Magazine.
The Society produced a map showing that there were about 170 graves to be recorded and photographed.
Old Ballysheen cemetery is well maintained. Some fine examples of stone-cutting were found particularly on the recumbent tombstones, with ornate decoration and lettering. Most of the stones were of local limestone and date from the 1730s. A small number of stones should be reinstated to preserve them. The volunteers gave second opinions to each other on the interpretation of the wordings and some of the volunteers went back again and again to view the lettering in different lighting conditions.
That work has now been completed and it is hoped that the findings will be of interest to the local community and to genealogists locally and much further afield. Scattered over the cemetery are rough stones marking the graves of deceased persons.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/old_ballysheen_graveyard.htm
Old Doora Graveyard, Ennis:
The Clare Roots Society transcribed the headstones in Old Doora Cemetery, Ennis in March 2010. A group of volunteers came forward:
• Eric & Breda Shaw
• Frank Barry
• Larry Brennan & Michael Falvey
The Society produced a map showing that there were 36 graves to be recorded and photographed.
Old Doora cemetery is well maintained. Some fine examples of stone-cutting were found particularly on the recumbent tombstones, with ornate decoration and lettering. Most of the stones were of local limestone. The volunteers gave second opinions to each other on the interpretation of the wordings and some of the volunteers went back again and again to view the lettering in different lighting conditions.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/old_doora_graveyard_ennis.htm
Killow Graveyard, Clarecastle
Title: Killow Graveyard Headstone Transcriptions
Dates: 1700 to 2008
Place/s: Clareabbey Parish
Source: Transcriptions from Headstones
Donator: The Clare Roots Society
These gravestone inscriptions and photographs of Killow Graveyard were recorded by Frank Barry of the Clare Roots Society over a number of years.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/killow_graveyard_clarecastle.htm
Killone Abbey Graveyard, Ennis:
Clare Roots Society became aware of the wonderful work that had been done at Killone Abbey in cleaning up the cemetery there by the Ballyea Community Group in the latter half of 2008. That work had brought to light many gravestones that had been covered over and the Society decided that it was an opportune time to record the inscriptions on the stones. Volunteers to carry out the work were sought and the following nine people agreed to take on the task:
- Robert Cullen
- Stephanie Moloney
- Larry Brennan
- Nicky Brennan
- Michael Falvey
- Donal Fitzpatrick
- Patrick Killeen
- Bernie Ryan
- Eric Shaw
A map showing the approximate location of each grave was drawn up and it showed that there were over 300 graves to be recorded and photographed.
Many fine examples of stone-cutting were found particularly on the recumbent tombstones, with ornate decoration and lettering. The fact that these had been covered over by brambles and scrub helped to preserve the lettering. Even so, some of the letters were difficult to decipher and some unusual surnames were discovered. The volunteers gave second opinions to each other on the interpretation of the wordings and some of the volunteers went back again and again to view the lettering in different lighting conditions.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/killone_abbey_graveyard_ennis.htm
Clare Abbey Graveyard, Ennis
Title: Clare Abbey Graveyard Headstone Transcriptions (complete as of July 2008: all legible headstones included)
Dates: 1692 to 2002
Place/s: Drumcliff and Clareabbey parishes
Source: Transcriptions from Headstones
Donator: The Clare Roots Society
These gravestone transcriptions of Clare Abbey Graveyard were recorded by Eric and Breeda Shaw of the Clare Roots Society in July 2008. Many of the gravestones are old, dating from the late 1600s, and have weathered greatly from the time of the last recording, done in the early 1900s by the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead.
The transcriptions are to be found on the Clare County Library website at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/clareabbey_graveyard_ennis.htm
Teampall na Déirce Graveyard (Tubber)
Teampall na Déirce graveyard is 10 yards southeast of the Tubber-Ruan road (GPS coordinates N52.97475, W008.91127; Irish OS map square R 91908 38833) in the townland of Shanballysallagh, Kilkeedy Parish. The headstones, 126 in number, were transcribed by Paddy Casey of the Swiss chapter of the Clare Roots Society in July 2007. The transcriptions can be viewed on the website of Clare County Library at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/temple_na_deirce_graveyard_tubber.htm
Kiltolagh Graveyard
The Kiltolagh (also known as Kiltola) graveyard is in the grounds of Kiltolagh church in the townland of Carrowkeel More. It is in the middle of fields on the right of the road from Ruan to Crusheen and cannot be seen from the road. (GPS coordinates N52.93625 W8.95072; Irish OS Discovery map 58, Irish map reference R36095 87673). The headstones, 140 in number, were transcribed by Paddy Casey of the Swiss chapter of the Clare Roots Society in July 2007. The transcriptions can be viewed on the website of Clare County Library at http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/graves/kiltolagh_graveyard_inchicronan_parish.htm