Facelift for Graveyard of the Poets

The Connacht Tribune, Friday, July 21, 1978.

Introduction

Killeenen Graveyard, the cemetery of the poets, is undergoing improvements to honour those buried there and to make identification easier. A small local committee is refurbishing the somewhat neglected grave of Anthony Raftery. Subscriptions are being collected locally to defray the cost. In addition Bord Failte is to provide two information plaques in the year.

Bord Failte has already forwarded information plaques which will shortly be placed over the graves of Marcus and Patsy Callanan, natives of nearby Caherdevane. The Lane family direct descendants of the two poets are having the grave improved and better identified.

It is hoped to have a simple ceremony on Sunday, August 27th in remembrance of the three poets.

Gort

It was on August 26th, 1900 that a great assembly gathered in Killeenen to inaugurate Raftery's headstone, erected largely under the guidance of Lady Gregory.

Vandals

An officer of An Taisce (Galway Association) surveyed the savage multilation of a tomb in Killeely Church last week and deplored its desecration by vandals in search of valuables placed in a lead coffin.

A few years ago, in 1975/76, An Taisce, with the assistance of the local people, had set the interior of the ancient church in order by clearing out trees and waste and securing the headstones, tombs and windows.

One of these tombs, which is up near the sanctuary area, is extremely old and, though any externals are now indecipherable, it is though to be that of the Lynches of Lavally, local magnets in the Middle Ages.

The vandal (or vandals) tried at first to enter the tomb by the east side but failed. A second attempt made through the roof also failed. A third attempt through the west side succeeded and a person entered the deep tomb to open the lead coffin. The bones were left to one side in search for valuables.

The stones dislodged in this savage attack remain where they were moved and until the tomb is placed in order again they are a testimony to the savage greed in someone's heart.

Clerk of Works

The National Monument Division of the Board of Works have appointed Mr. P. J. Dolan of Cavan as Clerk of Works in succession to Mr. Geraghty who retired last Christmas. Mr. Dolan is in charge of the restoration of the Abbots house at Shanclagh, the 14th / 15th century two storey quadrangle building at Kilmacduagh in September last year and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Only half of the structure is being restored at present. At the moment the roof is up and on it will be placed Liscannor flags near the base and slates further up. It is a completely nainless roof, being of native Irish oak with wooden dowels. There will be a parapet around the roof for visitors to view the surrounding countryside. The ground floor will be used as a museum and the first floor will house meetings of local associations.

The doorway and windows will be Gothic in design and the masonry will be one of the early period of the building. Here again it will be native oak for the door frames, door and window sashes.

The mason and other craftsmen employed on these projects have long experiences of this type of work and on completion Kilmacduagh will have a valuable amenity, not forgetting its importance in Irish National heritage.

Presentation

A Dun Emer mat, manufactured by the Yeats sisters when they conducted the Dun Emer School of Embroidery in Dublin in the early decades of this century, has been presented to Thoor Ballylee, Gort.

It is a beautiful mat of Celtic design, with an impressive combination of colors, gold, blue, purple, green and apricot. The mat, formerly the property of Mrs. Brede Swanzy Casserly, was presented on permanent loan from her daughter, Mrs. Pamela Mahahan, The Sandycove Battery, Sandycove Point, Co. Dublin.

The mat which will be on display in Thoor Ballylee, is yet another of the many acquisitions for the tower to recreate the unique atmosphere of that world famous building.

Country Cottages

Cashelcolgan Holdings have applied for planning permission for thirty country cottages at Cloughballmore, Kilcolgan. The erection of these houses would mean that Ballindereen village would benefit a great deal from the development, which would bring hundreds of extra customers to the shops.

Surgeon's Fellowship

Dr. E. E. J. (John) Smith, M.A., M.D. received his Diploma as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons recently at the College of the Royal College of Surgeons, London.

Dr. Smith is a nephew of Mr. Fergus Reilly of Derreen, Gort.

As a matter of interest Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, was admitted to the Honorary Fellowship of the College at the same time.