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The Old Graveyard, Mayogall
The Old Graveyard Gates - drawing by Dermot Moore.
A headstone survey was carried out of the old graveyard in the 1980's and the data was stored on a computer database. At this time the graveyards were being tidied up and landscaped by the late
Father Patrick Regan Parish Priest assisted by two local men Fran and Mickey Magill. Many local parishioners also helped out at various times with this clean up. The upper half of the graveyard was overgrown with bushes, these were cleared and new paths put down. The upper corner was levelled up with gravel which was hauled by tractors from Mulholland's pit in Ballymacpeake. Stones were gathered and these were used by Fran and Mickey to build a dry stone wall along one side of the graveyard. The stone wall along the car park was repaired by Francis Lagan, James McCloy and James Shaw, a new gate was also opened. The headstones were cleaned with a power washer enabling names and dates to be more clearly read.
The computer Database quickly sorted the grave records into chronological order to reveal the earliest grave dating back to 1805. However it must be remembered that most data was taken from existing headstones, how many people were buried without headstones or whose graves are lost is unknown.
Very little remains of the old chapel. Father Regan PP had the outline of the walls marked out with paving stones. A datestone belonging to the old chapel was discovered buried in the pillars of the new chapel. These pillars were being rebuilt back from the busy main road by stonemason Tommy Rankin. Father Regan arranged to have this stone and two holy water fonts placed into the remains of a wall of the old chapel.
Parishioners who visit the Old Graveyard will be glad to see the damaged pillar
has been repaired in time for Cemetery Sunday 2023.
This gate is believed to be the original entrance. The other gate at the carpark was opened by Fr
Regan PP, in the 1980s.
The old gates have suffered periodic damage over the years.
During Fr Regan's time, a tractor hit the left pillar and the ball fell and broke
on the road.
The replacement ball was apparently sourced from Co Donegal.
During Fr O'Donnell
PP's time,the ball on the right
hand side pillar rolled off but fell
undamaged onto the grass.
Tommy Rankin,
stonemason, refitted it
Recently on the 24th Sept 2022 the same right hand pillar suffered major damage when the
coping and ball were pushed off into the graveyard side. The ancient coping
broke. It is believed a vehicle possibly towing something caught the top of the
pillar pushing it off into the grounds of the graveyard.
Colm McNally, Ardmore Stone, Ballymacpeake, reconstructed and repaired the top and the
pillar was restored to it's original state june
2023.
New gates installed October 2025
Old Graveyard Gates
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