Cemetery: Parish of Churchtown - Churchtown Churchyard

***********************************************
Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Kildare Index
Copyright

************************************************

File contributed by: C. Hunt

CEDMETERY: PARISH OF CHURCHTOWN* ?CHURCHTOWN CHURCHYARD

* 'Though this church is now known by no other name
than Churchtown, yet it very probably was called
Fasagh Rheban church, after the district it was situated
in."

'This churchyard lies three miles to the north-west of
Athy. Of the ruins of the church, all that is now left are
large portions of the north and south walls; a doorway
facing each other is in each, but all cut-stone work has
been torn out, to be used as headstones to graves. In
what was the chancel, is the half of a square head (with
moulded corners) of a granite font. Near where it at
present lies, is a slab, much sunk in the ground,
measuring 6 feet 4 inches by 2 feet 2 inches; a large
thorn tree over shadows it; down the centre, lightly
incised, runs a plain cross on three steps; at the head of
the stone, along the rim, and partly down one side runs
a date and some letter, thus; :?" 1598 DDHL : DD

'The lettering is in relief, and, as far as I know, has not
been explained. It is probable that other interesting
slabs are lying underneath the fallen masonry and
accumulation of clay.'
_____

'On another slab, which is raised above the level of the
ground by means of a pile of loose stones, also in the
chancel, is the following inscription, in raised letters;
:?" IN + RI
                     IHS

"Here lyeth ye Body of BRYAN McMANUS late of
Castle Rebban who departed this life ye 9th of Decbr
1729 aged 47 years & of his mother in law CATHRIN
COFFIE who departed this life in ye 73rd year of her age
& also of his Daughter CATHRINE Mc MANUS who
departed this life 1729 and in ye 20th year of her age.

       Memento   [Skull and cross-bones]   mori."

'[Portion broken off.]'

'On a table tomb, near the above, is the inscription'
"Here lyeth the Body of IAMES MOOR who departed
this life ye 10th day of Iune 1758 Aged 37 yrs  Also
SARAH WALSH who Departed her Life April 2nd 1771
Aged 24 yrs"

"Here lyeth ye Body of PATRK McEVOY Depd Iuly ye 1st
Amen"
  [A headstone]

"Here lieth the Body of ROGER FLAHERTY who departed
this life August the 6th 1765 Aged 21."
   [A headstone]

Source:
Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the
Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Vol 3, 1897