Ballyboughal

Ballyboughal Cemetery

Ballyboughal Cemetery is set in pasture land to the northwest of the village of Ballyboughal. It is located on the west side of the R108. While historical evidence points to an early medieval foundation there is no evidence of any early features at the site.

Historical Context

Ballyboughall means "the town of the staff", which may suggest a Patrician connection, although it is not possible to establish this with any certainty. A reference from 1302 AD says the St. Patrick’s bachull, or staff, was kept here for a period, indicating that the connection may post-date the life of the saint himself. In any case, there does appear to have been a monastery in Ballyboughall before the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1169. Upon their arrival, it is recorded that Strongbow gave the church it to Christ Church Cathedral, along with the staff.

The church, which is located in the southern end of the graveyard has a fine window dating to c.1300, amongst other medieval architectural features. There are arched tomb recesses and a considerable number of burials to the interior of the church. A reference from 1887 reported that there was a lancet-arched niche at the southeast chancel which once covered a recumbent tombstone, a second small lancet-arched niche which once covered another recumbent tombstone farther to the west and a small lancet-arched doorway which lead out to a vault. The vault was described as being uncared for, and full of human bones.

Archaeological and Architectural Features

The standing remains within the graveyard consist of the walls of an undivided nave and chancel church with a triple bellcote to the west gable. It is constructed of coursed rubble limestone with dressed quoins. There are buttresses to the north and south elevations. The scar of a single span pitched roof is visible on the interior of the bellcote. There are segmental headed openings to the north and south walls. There is a pointed-arch east window with sandstone mouldings with bar holes and a carved female head to label stop. There is burial within the interior of the church.

General Condition

The condition of the graveyard is good and it is well and regularly maintained, grass regularly mown. The graveyard is still in use and individual graves are well maintained.

General Description

Square graveyard bounded by a wall predominantly constructed of concrete breeze blocks. The graveyard consists of an old section around the church with a modern extension to the northwest. The inscribed grave markers in the graveyard date from early 18th to 21st century. There are 18th and 19th century headstones built into the east wall of the church including two 19th century examples dedicated to members of the Savage family. The earliest inscribed stone dates to 1720 and is located at the west end of the church. The partial remains of the headstone read "body of... Macabe. Dec Janry 2d 1720 aged 64 years". The older part of the graveyard is raised slightly and divided by a concrete path from the rest of the graveyard.

The extension is of 20th to 21st century date. There are number of grave markers to the interior of the church. A number of different crafts are represented on the headstones including tanners. On the exterior of the south wall of the church is a plaque commemorating the 1798 Rebellion, surrounded by a railed plot with two headstones in it and a headstone commemorating the United Irishmen.

There is a large, well executed, granite tomb with limestone plaques and surrounded by cast-iron railings on a granite and brick plinth to the northwest of the church. The inscriptions on south of box tomb read "In the vault beneath are deposited the remains of Thomas Byrne, Esq.., Casino died 17th March 1857, aged 65 years. May he rest in peace" and "Anastasia, relict of the late Thomas Byrne Esq.., of Casino died at 73 Upper Gardiner Street Dublin, the 25th March 1859, aged 63 years". The inscriptions on the north of the tomb read "Emily Frances Byrne died 12th July 1864 aged 32 years. Thomas Clarke Byrne son of Joseph H. Byrne Esq.. died at Casino, Malahide, August 8th 1875 aged 14 years".

The modern section of the graveyard contains headstones and free-standing crosses set in east and west facing rows separated by concrete footpaths.