Clanvaraghan Old Graveyard - Gravestone Inscriptions

Rev. Gerard Park refers in his book 'Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, 1985', to Clanvaraghan old graveyard being possibly presented to the parish by the Ratcliffe family, ancestors of the English family, probably at the same time of the rebuilding of old Clanvaraghan chapel in 1825. Unfortunately no firm date can be traced to confirm exactly when old Clanvaraghan graveyard was first used for burials. The oldest gravestone belongs to Bernard Murray who died 9th September 1833. It is possible that old Clanvaraghan graveyard was actually presented to the parish in the early 1830's, as this would coincide with the date of 1831 which is referred in the 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland book, Volume Three, Parishes of County Down I, 1834-6', as being the exact date regarding the rebuilding of Old Clanvaraghan chapel by Fr. John O'Neill who was parish priest of Kilmegan from 1831 to 1843. The following are gravestone inscriptions taken from headstones in old Clanvaraghan graveyard.

BURNS
In loving memory of Isabella Burns, who died 23rd June 1968
Also Isabella and James Toner R.I.P.

BURNS
SUSAN BURNS died 4th February 1914
Sara died 29th January 1923

BURNS
MARIA BURNS who died 1920
Her husband James Burns who died 28th February 1922
Her daughter - ROSE ANNE ROGAN who died 1st May 1966
Her daughter Elizabeth Gracey, who died 11th June 1976

BURNS 1968
Downey Clanvaraghan

CONNORS
Erected by John Connors, Drumnaquoile in memory of his
Sister Sara, who died 13th July 1887 aged 22
His mother Rose who died 13th March 1894 - aged 72
His brother Hugh who died 13th October 1908 - aged 56
His father, John who died 11th November 1902 - aged 91

DORAN
Erected by John Dornan, Slievenisky, in memory of his father and mother
John and Nancy Dornan, his brothers and sisters - his wife,
Mary, and John Dornan

FITZPATRICK
PATRICK FITZPATRICK died November 1857
Patrick Joseph Fitzpatrick died 15th March 1847
His daughter Mary Fitzpatrick died 19th Jan 1860
His wife Jane died September 1859
His son Thomas died 4th November 1871
Jane Mary died 8th June 1879
George Fitzpatrick died 15th September 1906
His wife Margaret died 2nd December 1910
Sarah died 17th May 1821

KELLY
Burial Ground of Kelly's Clanvaraghan

LOUGHLIN
Edward and Ellen Loughlin, Slievenisky

McALLISTER
Erected by Rose McAllister, Drumnaquoile, in memory
Of Daniel McAllister who died 29th March 1889 aged 82
Susan McAllister, who died 26th February 1883 -aged 20
Rose Anne McAllister who died 2nd September 1895 - aged 72

McARDLE
ROSE McARDLEwho died 21st March 1919
Also her son Donal who died 4th July 1962

McCARTAN
(New York) - Erected by P O'H, McCartan, in memory of
Rosa, his wife, her father and mother
Daniel and Mary Murray, Slievenisky

McCARTAN
Erected by James McCartan in memory of Agnes (wife)
Who died 1841 - aged 41
His son Hugh who died 16th December 1849 - 36 years
His daughter Catherine who died 11th June 1852 - aged 18

McCARTAN
THOMAS McCARTAN, Ballywillwill, died 6th September 1919

McDONNELL
John McDonnell's MOTHER, Aughlisnafin, died 1853

McGRADY
EDWARD McGRADY
Slievenisky died 1867 - aged 67
His wife, Brigid, died 21st September 1867 aged 66
And Catherine who died 7th July 1882

McILVERNON
HUGH McILVERNON, Balywillwill, died 13th January 1892 aged 77
His wife Anne who died 31st March 1902 aged 80

McMULLAN
JOHM McMULLAN, Ballywillwill, died 12th January 1857
A good husband, a kind father, a true Patriot

MAC MUIREADHAIGH
Uaigh
Padraig Mac Muireadhaigh, agus a sléachta, do cuireadh annseo,
Mairéad Bean Ní Mhuireadhaig, a fuair bás 18 Iúl 1915 - 76
bliana d'aois

MORGAN
JAMES MORGAN - Clanvaraghan, who died 23rd October 1971 - aged 62
His mother, Anne Morgan, Ballywillwill who died 17th March 1929
His father, Bernard Morgan, who died 22nd May 1933

MORGAN.......McMullan Burial Ground.....McKay.....McCormack

MURPHY
OWEN MURPHY, Clanvaraghan, who died 16th April 1857 - aged 77
His wife Cecilia who died 18th April 1848 - aged 25
And Hugh Murphy who died 14th February 1862 - aged 59
And Patrick Murphy of Leitrim who died 8th May 1882 - aged 77
Also Owen Murphy M.C.C. who died 4th February 1906 - aged 53

MURRAY
BERNARD MURRAY died 9th September 1833
His daughter Martha died March 1866
His son Francis Edward died May 1869 - aged 4 months
His son Francis Joseph died 1887 - aged 17
Henry Murray died March 1892
Wife Agnes died 6th July 1899
Bernard Murray died 1901
Patrick Murray died 23rd January 1919

MURRAY Here lies the remains of Edward John Murray who died 1835 - aged 79. Also John Murray, who died 1896

MURRAY
MATHEW MURRAY, Drumnaquoile, died 18th September 1839 - aged 58. His wife Catherine died 17th January 1855 - aged 66

MURRAY
JAMES MURRAY, Slievenisky died 1860

MURRAY
Erected by Patrick Murray, Drumnaquoile, in memory of my Father
John Murray who died 20th August 1866 - aged 79
His mother MARY who died 1888 - aged 84, and sister Mgt. Fitzsimond died 14th June 1877

MURRAY
Erected by Daniel Murray Slievenisky in memory of
Henry Murray Slievenisky who died 24th December 1855 - aged 76
His mother - Catherine Mary Murray who died 14th August 1870 - aged 82
His brother - Hugh Murray Slievenisky who died 28th March 1865 - aged 56

MURRAY
NEAL MURRAY, Clanvaraghan - Erected by his son Patrick

MURRAY
Erected by Hugh Murray, Guiness in memory of
John Murray who died 17th February 1901 - aged 98
Annie, who died 29th May 1884 - aged 58
Annie, who died 17th April 1888
Mary Catherine who died 4th January 1905
The above HUGH died 23rd January 1950
His wife Mary Anne died 19th November 1957

O'HARE
Erected by Joseph O'Hare Backaderry, in memory of Anne
Jane, who died 18th January 1907
His father James who died 1903 aged 78
Anne, who died 1900 aged 31
John who died 1899 aged 33
Agnes, who died 1904 aged 6 months
Mary, who died 1912 aged 18
John who died 1932 aged 68
Bernard who died 1964

PARRY
EVAN THOMAS PARRY who died 14th January 1964

ROGAN
DANIEL ROGAN, his wife Margaret, and infant son Bernard who died 24th March 1940

SMYTH
Erected by Margaret in memory of her father Henry Smyth
Who died 13th November 1907 - aged 86 also
Anne Mary who died in 1897 aged 97

SMYTH
SMYTH FAMILY BURIAL GROUND of
Daniel Smyth
Wallace Hill R.I.P.

SMYTH
DANIEL SMYTH Slievenisky
Anne Smyth Slievenisky and their family

SMYTH
PATRICK SMYTH Drumnaquoile, who departed this life 23rd Sept. 1896
Also his brother Roger who departed this life 2nd February 1871 - 75 yrs

SMYTH, Clanvaraghan

TOMBIL
(t) Y of Clanvaraghan - In memory of son Pat who departed this life 13th August 1840, and Dan who died 15th August 1846

WALSH
TERESA WALSH, who died 18th April 1971

References:
Park, Rev. Gerard. Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, p61-63, Drumaroad 1985