Drumaroad Old Graveyard - Gravestone Inscriptions

1807 because of the continuance of burials in Drumaroad graveyard, Bishop Patrick McMullan consecrated Drumaroad graveyard when Father. John McCartan was parish priest of Ballykinlar and his brother Hugh was curate. The oldest inscribed gravestone before the consecration of Drumaroad graveyard in 1807 was Hugh McNamara who died on 15th March 1789. The old part of Drumaroad graveyard may have surrounded the first Mass House in Drumaroad, which was in existence prior to the building of the present St. John the Baptist Church, which was commenced in 1838 and was finally completed in 1841.

According to local tradition in 1807 Mr. Bernard McAvoy removed a portion of the original altar stone used by the Franciscans of Drumnaquoile, which he then inscribed in Irish the date of the consecration of Drumaroad graveyard in 1807. The portion of Franciscan altar stone later marked the burial place of Mr. Bernard McNamara, and was then removed from Drumaroad graveyard by Rev. Denis Cahill PP of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan and mounted inside St. John the Baptist Church to mark the official opening of the church following extensive renovations in October 1935. The following are gravestone inscriptions taken from headstones in old Drumaroad Graveyard.

BURNS
I.H.S. Sacred to the memory of Daniel Burns of Backaderry who departed this life March the 10th 1825 aged 75 years. And also his son Hugh Burns who departed this life April the 17th 1826.

CANLIN
John Canlin d. 1817

CARLIN
I.H.S. Erected by Bernard Carlin of Druminacquoil in memory of his son Anthony who departed this life Sept. 6th 1831 aged 25 years.

CRANGLE
I.H.S. Erected by Patrick Cunningham, Drumcaw, in memory of his father Patrick Cunningham died July 1948. And his mother Mary Cunningham, died April 1847. And his wife Mary Cunningham died January 1877.

DAVY
Erected in memory of Richard Davy of Drumanaghan who died 1st October 1824 aged 66 years. And also his son Richard who died 3rd June 1844 aged 31 years.

FITZPATRICK
I.H.S. Erected by John Fitzpatrick of Clanvaraghan to the memory of his wife Ann Fitzpatrick alias BURNS who depard. This life August the 18 1824 aged 25 years.

HANNA
/Rough Granite/. I.H.S. Here lieth the body of Patrick Hanna of Scribby who departed this life January the 14 1814 aged 63.

HANNA
/White marble in surround/. I.H.S. Erected in memory of Hugh Hanna of Drumaroad who departed this life 12th Feby. 1856 aged 72 years.

HANVEY
/Small stone under 2 trees/. Erected in memory of William Hanvey who departed this life June 20th 1824 A.D. 16 ye. Also An Hanvey daughter to Pat Hanvey. Also Denis Hanvey who died the 26th Feby. 1842. Drumaroade.

JENNINGS
Erected by Patrick Jennings in memory of his daughter Margaret who died 4th September 1839 aged 7 years. Also his wife Catherine who died 1st Octr. 1845.

KELLY
/Rough Granite/. I.H.S. Erected by William Kelly of Guiness in memory of his wife Catherine RODEN who departed this life the 8th OF June 1825 aged 36.

KELLY
/White Marble/. I.H.S. Here rest the mortal remains of Owen Kelly, Guiness, who departed this life in the year 1863 aged 72 years. Also his beloved wife Margaret Kelly who departed this life in the year 1881 aged 63 years. Also their son Hugh Kelly who departed this life in the year 1878 aged 43 years. R.I.P.

KING
Here lieth the body of Catherine King of Magheradroll who departed this life Dec. 29 A.D. 1832 aged 75 years.

McAVOY
/Tablet on North wall inside the Church with 6 lines in Irish followed by/. Ths graveyard as above mentioned was consecrated in A.D. 1807. May God be merciful to the soul of the faithful departed. Requiescant in pace. The readers are humbly beseech'd to pray for the writer, viz., Berd. McAvoy. /Below on the wall is the following/. This stone records the consecration in 1807 of Drumaroad graveyard by Dr. Patrick McMullan. Bishop of Down & Connor, 1793 - 1824. According to reliable tradition it was a portion of altar stone in the Franciscan Monstery of Drumnacoyle. Formerly it marked the grave of the writer Bernard McAvoy, a school master in Drumaroad who lies buried in this graveyard. This stone was placed in this church, October 1935.

NB: Following the renovation of St. John the Baptist Church, Drumaroad, in 1996, by Rev. John Moley P.P., of Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, the portion of altar stone was then removed, remounted, and encased in a glass cabinet at the inside entrance porch door.

McMANUS
/Polished granite stone inscribed "O'NEILL"/. In memory of Elizabeth McManus, Drumcavelin, died 12th October 1849. John McManus died 10th December 1856. Elizabeth McVEIGH died 10th May 1878. Alice McManus died 5th April 1903.

McNAMARA
Here lyeth ye body of Hugh McNamara, leathe of Creib who departed ye life March 15 1789 aged 43 years. & his wife Ros SMYTH died November ye 1 1795 aged 52 years.

MAGINIS
I.H.S. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Erected by John Maginis of Guiness in memory of his beloved children. James who died July 26 1836 aged 5 years. Peter who died Jany. 19 1838 aged 20 years. And his beloved wife Rose who died May 3 1861 aged 74 years. There also lie the remains of John Maginis above named who died Jany. 21st 1866 in the 85 year of his age.

MAGUIRE
/White Marble/. Erected by Henry Maguire, merchant, Glasgow in memory of his father Henry Maguire who died 22nd November 1877 aged 69 years. Also his mother Margaret who died 21st July 1890 aged 79 years. Also his sister Margaret Jane, died in 1849 aged 14 years. And his brother James died in 1884 aged 33 years. Requiescant in pace.

MORGAN
/Rough granite/. I.H.S. this stone erected by Owen Morgan of Edendarve to the memory of his wife Phabe Morgan who depd. This life Jan. the 10th 1829 aged 58.

MULHOLLAND
I.H.S. Gloria in exelsis Deo. Erected by James Mulholland, Dunmore, in memory of his beloved children, Jane who died April 16 1859 aged 10 years. Rose Ann who died April 26 1859 aged 8 years and Catherine who died May 9 1859 aged 4 years.

O'NEILL
Erected to the memory of Chas. O'Neill late of Drumkerra who departed this life 3rd April 1832 aged 80 years. Also to the memory of his wife Eleanor who died 14th June 1849 aged 75 years.

RICE
Erected by John Rice of Magheralone in memory of his wife Catherine Rice alias O'NEILL, who departed this life 20th August 1851 aged 48 years.

SAVAGE
/White marble stone above a low railed enclosure/. I.H.S. Erected in memory of Rowland Savage who died 14th April 1868 aged 76 years. His beloved wife Mary who died 2nd Novr. 1890 aged 74 years. Their daughter Catherine who died 12th Jany. 1892 aged 55 years. Their daughter Margaret who died 26th May 1894 aged 50 years. Their daughter Elizabeth who died 24th Novr. 1910 aged 65 years. Their daughter Teresa who died 5th May 1927 aged 79 years. Their son Patrick George who died 22nd July 1928 aged 70. Their son Rowland T Savage who died 12th June 1927 aged 77 years. Also his wife Susan who died 31st Jany. 1923 aged 73 years. Their daughter Mary Anne Savage who died 4th Augt. 1910 aged 19 years. Requiescant in pace. Family burying place of Rowland Savage.

SHIELS
/Rough Granite/. I.H.S. Here lieth the body of Henery Shiels of Drumaroad who depd. This life the 10th January 1827 aged 28 years.

SMYTH
Erected by Edward McVEY of Dublin in memory of his beloved mother-in-law Mary Smyth of Drumnaquoile who died 9th May 1853 aged 64 years. May she rest in peace, ye faithful, pray for the repose of her soul.

TOMAN
I.H.S. Erected by Mary and Rose Toman in memory of their mother Rose Toman of Drumaroad who died 11th July 1849 aged 50 years. Also their father John Toman who died 17th March 1866 aged 67 years."

References:
Park, Rev. Gerard. Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, p69. Drumaroad 1985
Clarke, R.S.J. Gravestone Inscriptions County Down Vol. 9, p26-29. Belfast 1984