Naul

Naul Cemetery

Naul Cemetery is set in tillage fields to the northeast of Naul village. The upstanding archaeological remains on the site are late medieval in date.

Historical Context

The original parish church at Naul was burnt and desecrated in the mid-16th century and is recorded as being ruinous with only the walls standing in the Civil Survey 1654-56. The current building was built as a chantry chapel in 1710 to house the remains of the Hussey family. The chantry chapel contains architectural features from a later medieval building and a wall plaque dedicated to the Hussey family. The graveyard was previously surveyed in 1992 (Egan 1992, vol.5).

Archaeological and Architectural Features

The graveyard contains the remains of chantry chapel of the Hussey family dating to 1710. The standing remains consist of three walls and the footings of the fourth wall. There is an inscription plaque above the door. There is evidence of reused architectural elements from an earlier church including an ogee-headed window and punched dressed stones in the window and door surrounds.

General Description

Sub-rectangular graveyard bounded by squared rubble limestone wall. Concrete steps in the west wall have replaced the original entrance which was in the southeast corner of the graveyard. The ground level within the graveyard is raised and gently undulating.

The graveyards contains headstones of 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st century date. They are located on all four sides of the chantry chapel. The markers are predominantly east-facing and consist of headstones and freestanding crosses with some individual table tombs and undecorated stone markers. Many of the plots are bounded by low concrete kerbs. There is a gravestone at the east end of the church with the tools of a blacksmith carved on the top. There is a well carved early 19th century headstone dedicated by Daniel Macken which has a carved crucifixion plaque, winged angels, an IHS motif and a skull and cross bones over the inscription and slightly incised decoration to the margins of the slab.

The mural monument on the west wall of the chantry table is a well executed diamond shaped table with a roll moulding with the following inscription "This chapel and monument were erected by Hon. Edward Hussey of Westoune and His Lady Madam Mable Hussey alias Barnewall for their prosperity in the year of Our Lord God 1710". There is a late 19th century headstone to the west of the church dedicated to members of the family of Seamus Ennis, a noted located musician, "In loving memory of James Ennis Naul who died April 1919 and his wife Mary (nee) Macken who died Nov 1890. Their daughter Angela died June 1904. Their son Michael died May 1964, aged 94. Jack Ennis 1888-1965. James A Ennis 1885-1964. Marie Ennis (nee McCabe) 1890-1977. Séamus Ennis 1919-1982. Gertrude Clement (nee Ennis) 1883-1983".