UPDATE - 03.01.'07
Here is a short report on Killaraght Graveyard since the opening of this website.
The Graveyard is “unregistered” land and is in the old Moylurg Territory.
Responsibility for the upkeep of this sacred land should be shared on a prorata basis by Counties Roscommon (areas: Breedogue/Ballinameen and Boyle, Burial plots 80%) and Sligo (area: the old parish of Killaraght, now called the half-parish, Burial plots 20%).
Two Maintenance Committees have been formed since this website was opened: – one in Breedogue/Ballinameen and one in Killaraght. Todate, sad to report, Boyle has taken no active responsibility.
For the time being these committees work independently of each other and they have done quite an amount of excellent work which was unsupervised by Heritage. However, the absence of cooperation and supervision is evident in the following:
Memorial Stone (see photos 1 and 2)
Graveyard
name at the main entrance (see photos 3)
Notice re. waste disposal (see photos 4, 5, and 6)
Suggested amendment for the Memorial Stone “wording”:
Erected Year 2007
On this ancient Christian site of:
Saint Attracta's Home of Hospitality c. 500 to 1500
Feast Day – August 11th.
With respect and asking pardon for:
Denying Christian Burial to unbaptised still born Infants over countless generations.
Acknowledging in sorrow, the 1845 Potato Famine Victims
buried here and elsewhere.
And we offer our prayers to Saint Attracta for all the people buried in this,
Her Sacred Land.
Motif: “Hospitality and Charity towards All”
The present”wording” on the Memorial Stone is very sanitised and has, of course, a big element of denial and “cover up” which is quite common in Church and State. The Stone in question does not make it clear that unbaptised still born infants were buried, some at night, in the non-consecrated areas of this Graveyard. These infants, under Church Law, and according to the “theory” of Limbo, were denied Christian burial in their own consecrated family plots.
It should be noted that Siobhan Ryan, Heritage Officer, Sligo Co.Co.failed in her supervision of this Memorial Stone but, for historical reasons and for posterity, this “wording” will be amended to reflect the real truth about Limbo along with historical dates.
An appropriate icon,similar, but not the same, as the Famine Memorial in Ardcarne Cemetery (see photo) should also be erected An infant and water could be incorporated. Tony Bambrick, Dorothy Gillespie and David Gillespie, all connected with the Ardcarne Graveyard Committee, would, as always, be pleased to share their heritage experience .
Suggested amendment for the Graveyard name at the main entrance:
When you view the relevant photograph, you will, no doubt, agree that this is a “shabby” little sign for such an important Christian Site. Even the name is incorrect. The historical name should read:
KILLARAGHT
GRAVEYARD
Regarding the Waste Disposal sign, again see photograph:
When you view the photograph of the “skip”, it is quite clear that the sign serves no purpose. Using modern jargon the wording on this sign is “too much in your face” and is not suitable for Saint Attracta's Sacred Site. At the convenience of those who erected this sign, it should be removed.
Information nights:
As there are no Historical/Heritage Groups in Breedogue or Killaraght, it should be considered by the Local Authority Officers, Siobhan Ryan/Dorothy Clarke of the Heritage Section, Sligo Co. Co., along with the Heitage Officer from the Roscommon Co. Co. to organise a few information nights for all the people from these areas who have a genuine interest in graveyard maintenance, heritage and restoration.
Annual Mass:
In August, 2007, the Annual Mass should be offered by a priest from Breedogue/Ballinameen or Boyle. A committee member from each area should attend to the collection of donations at the exit on the Annual Mass Sunday – not just Killaraght members. Every effort should be made to reinforce the idea (for want of a better word) that Killaraght Graveyard is not the “property” of any County or Parish and that this Sacred Ground should not be used for Territorial, Clerical or Political point scoring.
The Good News
Water Tap: A water tap was installed on the 10th October, 2005, which is a great facility.
Graveyard Fences: These fences were made but they were very expensive. However, some of the fencing wire, on the left hand side of the main entrance avenue, has snapped for whatever reason?
Grass: The
grass is cut on a regular basis.
Main Avenue: Quite Good.
Graveyard Entrance: The block wall is still very raw and shabby.
Car Park: An excellent car park has been put in place. Very Expensive.
Funds: One hundred and fifty euro was paid to Mrs. Peggy Keavney, Breedogue
Committee, out of the funds collected through this site.
