Cemeteries in Galway

Mrs OBumble · 14-04-2010 4:40pm #1

I've been meaning to ask for a while: where are all the cemeteries in Galway city?

The council website lists Rahoon and New Cemetery Bohermore. And there are occasional funerals that go to Forthill. I know where all these are.

But today I heard a reference to someone being buried in "Terryland Cemetery" - where's that?

Also, Mr Just has an idea that there's one "over a hill from Salthill somewhere" - he's certain it's not Rahoon, but can't tell me what/where it is. Anyone have any clues?

And are there any others? I'm interested in cemeteries that are still taking burials, or that were recently enough that living people will still visit them - not ancient burial grounds that aren't in use now.

?Cee?view · 14-04-2010 4:49pm

There's an old cemetery on Bishop O'Donnell road - coming from town direction; continue past the turn up to Rahoon Cemetery, leaving it on your right; and in over the wall to your right, you'll see the headstones (very easy to miss).

There's another cemetery in Salthill which was (as far as I know) the family cemetery of the O'Hara family of Lenaboy (now St. Ann's on Taylor's Hill). In Lower Salthill, you go through the gates to the right of the Warwick, into Lenaboy Gardens. Then take the first left. Continue right down to the end; there's a small pedestrian access gap; through there and it's immediately on your right on an elevated piece of land - it's very small - a family graveyard, and last time I saw very run down.

I think that the Brother's in Kingston, (which the road was relatively recently named after) have a graveyard as well at Kingston House.

(Just see your last line now - did you just add this?)

Meemars · 14-04-2010 4:50pm

There is an old cemetery in Castlelawn heights. I don't think it's still in use though. I came across it some years ago, and it looked pretty ancient, I'm sure there couldn't be anyone left in Galway with people to visit.
Having said all that, that was just an impression, I don't know for a fact.

Salthill also has a very small, also old cemetery, at the back of Lenaboy avenue/Lenaboy park. I think it was a children's cemetery, but then again, as I said before, I don't know for a fact, that was the story when I was younger.

Sounds like "over the hill from Salthill" must be Rahoon, surely?

LadyMayBelle · 14-04-2010 4:56pm

There i one in Menlo, just beyond the castle..it's a lovely little one and not ancient, AFAIK theere are some recent enough graves (that being 10-15 years ago).

There is also one beside the Racecourse in Ballybrit.. doubt it still takes people but I still see people leaving flowers sometimes. And Castlegar: this might help: http://www.castlegar-county-galway.com/list-of-graveyards-in-casltegar-county-galway

?Cee?view · 14-04-2010 4:57pm

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

There i one in Menlo, just beyond the castle..it's a lovely little one and not ancient, AFAIK theere are some recent enough graves (that being 10-15 years ago).

I've been at burials there, and I'm not ancient (although I do feel it sometimes!)

?Cee?view · 14-04-2010 4:58pm

Another one just occurs to me.

St. James Church in Bushypark - just before Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Still in use.

LadyMayBelle · 14-04-2010 6:17pm

Oh and the one in Mervue; I doubt it still takes people but it was done up in the past 10 years and people still use it often for visits

jenno86 · 14-04-2010 6:23pm

I hope your not going gravedigging, thats illegal. It wouldnt be wise to discuss that on here.

Sherifu · 14-04-2010 7:05pm

jenno86 wrote: »

It would be wise to discuss that on here.

Wise indeed /necro

Fuinseog · 14-04-2010 10:04pm

JustMary wrote: »

I've been meaning to ask for a while: where are all the cemeteries in Galway city?

The council website lists Rahoon and New Cemetery Bohermore. And there are occasional funerals that go to Forthill. I know where all these are.

But today I heard a reference to someone being buried in "Terryland Cemetery" - where's that?

Also, Mr Just has an idea that there's one "over a hill from Salthill somewhere" - he's certain it's not Rahoon, but can't tell me what/where it is. Anyone have any clues?

And are there any others? I'm interested in cemeteries that are still taking burials, or that were recently enough that living people will still visit them - not ancient burial grounds that aren't in use now.

a strange post. if you are interested in unusual graves Terryland is unspectacular. not very old either. there is a haunted house beside it or at least it as haunted.

Forthill is the most interesting cemetry, but you have to be oLd Galway to be buried tehre.
Rahoon has some interesting graves.

otherwise there is a cillin here and there.

Fuinseog · 14-04-2010 10:07pm

Meemars wrote: »

There is an old cemetery in Castlelawn heights. I don't think it's still in use though. I came across it some years ago, and it looked pretty ancient, I'm sure there couldn't be anyone left in Galway with people to visit.
Having said all that, that was just an impression, I don't know for a fact.

, surely?

ancient as in a hundred years or a little more than that. people from the area who grew up there before the estates arrived are still buried there.

Fuinseog · 14-04-2010 10:11pm

churchview wrote: »

Another one just occurs to me.

St. James Church in Bushypark - just before Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Still in use.

it also contain famine graves.

St Nicks has some impressive gravestones.

the Franciscan friary where the tribal elders are buried is hard to visit but interesting. cromwells men ransacked it robbed the corpses and fed them to the dogs of the city or so the story goes.
hardiman is also buried there.

LadyMayBelle · 15-04-2010 1:17am

Fuinseog, you seem familiar with terryland cemetary: is it the Castlelawn one just called something different? A far as i can google, the only mention of it is for a funeral of a person yesterday (RIP).

Fuinseog · 15-04-2010 8:30am

LadyPennyworth wrote: »

Fuinseog, you seem familiar with terryland cemetary: is it the Castlelawn one just called something different? A far as i can google, the only mention of it is for a funeral of a person yesterday (RIP).

Castlelawn is in Terryland (Tir Oilean). its marked on the OS map of the area. I only ever really called it the cemetry.until the seventies it was all farmland. true, its not used very often. its enclosed by a wall and not very large. what may I ask is your interest in our cemetries?

one of the oldest cemetries is in the claddagh, behind the fire station. when they built the firestation in 1956 they removed a lot of the graves and strange things strated happeneing like ladders suddenly falling and objects moving around by themselves.

?Cee?view · 15-04-2010 9:35am

Can't believe I forgot this one.

There's a graveyard behind Una Taffees. Originally there was a monastery or convent (can't remember which) on Castle Street and this was its graveyard.

Obviously very difficult to get to see it now.

Fuinseog · 15-04-2010 10:20am

churchview wrote: »

Can't believe I forgot this one.

There's a graveyard behind Una Taffees. Originally there was a monastery or convent (can't remember which) on Castle Street and this was its graveyard.

Obviously very difficult to get to see it now.

how can it be accessed if at all? anyone of note buried there?

?Cee?view · 15-04-2010 12:11pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

how can it be accessed if at all? anyone of note buried there?

The only way would be through Taffees.

I've no idea who is buried there. As far as I know it was limited to members of the monastery or convent.

I don't even know if anything much can still be seen there.

Mrs OBumble · 15-04-2010 2:34pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

a strange post. if you are interested in unusual graves Terryland is unspectacular. not very old either. there is a haunted house beside it or at least it as haunted.

It's not nearly as strange as some are imagining

One of the things on GalwayTransport.info's to-do list is a map of Galway's cemeteries and their public transport and carparking arrangements.

This will compliment similar maps of funeral homes and Catholic churches which I did a while back, and non-Catholic churches (which is still WIP). (Ye Irish are big on funerals!)

You might be surprised by how many people google "catholic church knocknacarra map" (or wherever), and end up on the public transport site. It had a visit yesterday from someone who searched for "terryland graveyard", and I was at the the funeral-Mass of the woman who was buried there. All of which prompted me to ask the question.

Many thanks for all the help (too many to press the thank-you button for each one) - I will be exercising some discretion in which ones are listed eg leave out the very small family-only.

Head The Wall · 16-04-2010 4:59pm

JustMary wrote: »

I've been meaning to ask for a while: where are all the cemeteries in Galway city?

The council website lists Rahoon and New Cemetery Bohermore. And there are occasional funerals that go to Forthill. I know where all these are.

But today I heard a reference to someone being buried in "Terryland Cemetery" - where's that?

Also, Mr Just has an idea that there's one "over a hill from Salthill somewhere" - he's certain it's not Rahoon, but can't tell me what/where it is. Anyone have any clues?

And are there any others? I'm interested in cemeteries that are still taking burials, or that were recently enough that living people will still visit them - not ancient burial grounds that aren't in use now.

There's also a cemetery in Rosshill up by the round tower and old monastery

loser2old4board · 16-04-2010 10:33pm

There are four that I am familiar with in Castlegar parish
which is almost a suburb of Galway city now.
Ballybrit also know locally as the Lisheen, Castlegar, Carrowbrowne
and Killeen. They are all still in regular use by local families.
I can give you more detailed directions if you want.
There is nothing unusual in any of them.
Stones dating back to maybe the late 1800s.

If your search is for history reasons then
Claregalway has a cemetery with stones dating back hundreds of years.
It's beside the old friary down by the river near the bridge.

Simarillion · 18-04-2010 7:26pm

The small graveyard off Lenaboy Park belonged to the O'Hara family of Lenaboy Castle on Taylors Hill. The gates into Lenaboy Park were one of the entrances to the house. Very few of the headstones are visible, one notes a 'Blanche Ismay O'Hara' who died as a child.

There was a graveyard in the gardens of the Ardilaun Hotel (previously Glenarde House) they were all exhumed when it was extended the first time round. Not sure who was there (possibly Persse's).

There is a graveyard belonging to the Dominican Sisters in what was the grounds of the school and convent.

Forthill is off limits to burials unless your family plot is located there.

The New Cemetery (or what was new at the time) is pretty fascinating for people including Lady Gregory and William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) and is split in half, Protestants on the left side and Catholics on the right.

Fuinseog · 19-04-2010 8:59am

Simarillion wrote: »

The small graveyard off Lenaboy Park belonged to the O'Hara family of Lenaboy Castle on Taylors Hill. The gates into Lenaboy Park were one of the entrances to the house. Very few of the headstones are visible, one notes a 'Blanche Ismay O'Hara' who died as a child.

There was a graveyard in the gardens of the Ardilaun Hotel (previously Glenarde House) they were all exhumed when it was extended the first time round. Not sure who was there (possibly Persse's).

There is a graveyard belonging to the Dominican Sisters in what was the grounds of the school and convent.

Forthill is off limits to burials unless your family plot is located there.

The New Cemetery (or what was new at the time) is pretty fascinating for people including Lady Gregory and William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) and is split in half, Protestants on the left side and Catholics on the right.

Sean Phadraig and Walther Macken are also buries there.
there is also a special section for the traveling community.

dilallio · 19-04-2010 9:50am

Simarillion wrote: »

The small graveyard off Lenaboy Park belonged to the O'Hara family of Lenaboy Castle on Taylors Hill. The gates into Lenaboy Park were one of the entrances to the house. Very few of the headstones are visible, one notes a 'Blanche Ismay O'Hara' who died as a child.

There was a graveyard in the gardens of the Ardilaun Hotel (previously Glenarde House) they were all exhumed when it was extended the first time round. Not sure who was there (possibly Persse's).

There is a graveyard belonging to the Dominican Sisters in what was the grounds of the school and convent.

Forthill is off limits to burials unless your family plot is located there.

The New Cemetery (or what was new at the time) is pretty fascinating for people including Lady Gregory and William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) and is split in half, Protestants on the left side and Catholics on the right.

Protestants to the left of me, Catholics to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with Jews :P

Mrs OBumble · 04-05-2010 6:22pm

Just a bit of follow up: I've now loaded and published this map ... many thanks for all your help.

The one thing that sees odd is the bit gap out towards Oranmore. Mr Just had an idea that there is a cemetery somewhere there, but couldn't tell me where. And no one else has mentioned it. Wondering if anyone knows anything here ...

Simarillion · 04-05-2010 7:40pm

There is indeed a graveyard in Oranmore. I just thought it was too far out to mention. There's a wee one in the churchyard in the town, but that church is now the library.

Then there is one out at Rinville Park, near the entrance at the top of the road to the sailing club. It's about to be hugely extended to accommodate more people from the city. Beautiful place to have one, the view is phenomenal!

LadyMayBelle · 04-05-2010 8:31pm

I attended a funeral only a few years ago in the one in Rinville, it;s a lovely spot. Would have mentioned that one but thought you needed city ones only

loser2old4board · 04-05-2010 11:07pm

Good job on the map! You missed out on the one in Castlegar.
Also if you need directions to the ones in Castlegar area
marked 'To be advised' , just let me know.

Mrs OBumble · 05-05-2010 10:58pm

Cheers: I left out the Castlegar Grotto one 'cos it didn't sound like it would get too many visitors today - is that the one you meant, or am I confused? ('tis a fine balance between history and current info I'm treading here). Will put it in if you think people will find it useful transport-wise.

And yes, I'd love public-transport directions for getting to any of the "to be advised" ones: I have a feeling that some of the regional buses might stop out in those directions, but don't know exactly where. Though I have a feeling that public transport may just not work for some of 'em.

loser2old4board · 06-05-2010 12:25am

No, there is a bigger cemetry in Castlegar a little further out the Tuam Rd on the left passed the turn off for the church.
The graves at the church grotto are for former priests of the parish of Castlegar.

I thought you were just looking for general road directions to the cemetries. Buses might stop if a person asked but certainly one or two of them are well 'off the beaten track', but the cemetries are still (sadly) in regular use.

Do you want road / car directions or is it just public-transport directions?

Mrs OBumble · 06-05-2010 12:25pm

Thanks, I'll add that one too.

And it's only public transport directions I'm putting in: I figure that people can work out their own road directions from the maps. I've put parking directions in a few of the theme-maps, but apart from that am trying to keep the whole site focussed on public-transport.

Cheers.
Mary

Mrs OBumble · 06-05-2010 12:30pm

Simarillion wrote: »

There is indeed a graveyard in Oranmore. I just thought it was too far out to mention. There's a wee one in the churchyard in the town, but that church is now the library.

Then there is one out at Rinville Park, near the entrance at the top of the road to the sailing club. It's about to be hugely extended to accommodate more people from the city. Beautiful place to have one, the view is phenomenal!

I've added both the Oranmore ones: http://www.interment.net/ireland/galway.htm says that there were still some quite recent burials in the town one (recent enough to be getting visitors) there.

Would you mind taking a quick peek at the map to see if I've got the places right? satellite maps are good, but occasionally I get confused. It's here

I put the Clarinbridge one in too, since the map went that far. But I was there a few weeks ago, so am sure the location-marker for it is right.

bonzodog2 · 06-05-2010 12:55pm

I don't know how active it is, there is a small one in Castlegar, on the left before you get to the Mail Sorting centre.Here is a link to a google-map. I don't know what its called.

Aoibhinn · 25-01-2011 6:39pm

churchview wrote: »

Can't believe I forgot this one.

There's a graveyard behind Una Taffees. Originally there was a monastery or convent (can't remember which) on Castle Street and this was its graveyard.

Obviously very difficult to get to see it now.

Hi Churchview,

This is really interesting, I never knew there was a cemetery behind Una Taaffes or that there was one in Lenaboy Gardens. Are these marked on Ordnance Survey maps? I would guess that the O'Hara graveyard hasn't been used since the early 1920s when they moved from Galway.

Kind regards,

Aoibhinn

Fuinseog · 25-01-2011 8:48pm

there are graves in merlin woods, perhaps from Cromwellian times, but no one is sure.
there is an old graveyard at the back of the abbey, where many of the city fathers are interred.

26-01-2011 2:49am

Aoibhinn wrote: »

Hi Churchview,

This is really interesting, I never knew there was a cemetery behind Una Taaffes or that there was one in Lenaboy Gardens. Are these marked on Ordnance Survey maps? I would guess that the O'Hara graveyard hasn't been used since the early 1920s when they moved from Galway.

Kind regards,

Aoibhinn

The one in Lenaboy is basically in the middle of an estate, i only know of it myself from drinking up there when i was younger.

I wouldn't call it a cemetery as such, that to me would be a plot of land with headstones, this thing is a high walled trench of sorts with a little ladder up one side leading on top of it.

I'm not sure what it was like on top though, kind of forget now.

http://maps.google.ie/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.263054,-9.074731&spn=0.000704,0.001843&z=19&layer=c&cbll=53.263123,-9.074986&panoid=aScEqq0Lh93QNXHpvn4Z2A&cbp=12,357.28,,1,-5.11

You can kind of make it out there

Aoibhinn · 26-01-2011 1:58pm

I am not sure if it has already been mentioned in this discussion, but there is (or there was) a small cemetery at the very end of Dalton Crescent where there is a right of way to the Taylor's Hill Road (next to Ardmore estate). My dad remembers it from his childhood in the 40s and says that the cemetery was located on the Ardilaun Hotel side of the right of way. The recent extensions of the Ardilaun Hotel may have destroyed it, but I am not sure as I haven't used that right of way in over 20 years.

ErnieBert · 26-01-2011 8:09pm

The graveyard in Salthill is accessible via the Emerson Avenue. This cul-de-sac is more or less opposite the defunct Sacre Couer Hotel. Drive don this road where you take a right into a small green area. Just before the green area is what can be best described a bit of wasteland. Therein is a walled graveyard.

The Castlegar graveyard is easily accessible from the N17 Tuam Road. It is on the left side of the road as you exit the city, just 100 metres before the main entrance to the Volvo garage and An Post mail centre. The graveyard had a narrow pathway located just beside a dormer style B&B "Rowan House".

Let's not forget the burial ground that is 'hidden' beneath the City Council run car park behind the Cathedral. There a commemorative plaque to let people know that they are parking on a prisoners graveyard which was still used as a burial ground up until the mid 20th century. Many people may not know that the Cathedral is built on the site of Galway Gaol which was still used a prison up until the late 1950's.

Fuinseog · 27-01-2011 9:27am

ErnieBert wrote: »

The graveyard in Salthill is accessible via the Emerson Avenue. This cul-de-sac is more or less opposite the defunct Sacre Couer Hotel. Drive don this road where you take a right into a small green area. Just before the green area is what can be best described a bit of wasteland. Therein is a walled graveyard.

The Castlegar graveyard is easily accessible from the N17 Tuam Road. It is on the left side of the road as you exit the city, just 100 metres before the main entrance to the Volvo garage and An Post mail centre. The graveyard had a narrow pathway located just beside a dormer style B&B "Rowan House".

Let's not forget the burial ground that is 'hidden' beneath the City Council run car park behind the Cathedral. There a commemorative plaque to let people know that they are parking on a prisoners graveyard which was still used as a burial ground up until the mid 20th century. Many people may not know that the Cathedral is built on the site of Galway Gaol which was still used a prison up until the late 1950's.

the late fifties are you sure? it was certainly still there, burt I thought it closed in 1940. coould be wrong. there is a book out on women in galway gaol.

ErnieBert · 27-01-2011 8:23pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

the late fifties are you sure? it was certainly still there, burt I thought it closed in 1940. coould be wrong. there is a book out on women in galway gaol.

Perhaps you are correct? My information is second hand.

My Dad was friends with a lady who was born in Galway Gaol. Her father was a prison officer. When she was a teenager, her parents were allocated a house in Courthouse Square for which they paid a nominal rent which never increased.

She lived in the house up until her passing 3 or 4 years ago when she was in her 80's. She was still paying the same rent that her father was paying when he died.

Meteoric · 27-01-2011 9:32pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

the late fifties are you sure? it was certainly still there, burt I thought it closed in 1940. coould be wrong. there is a book out on women in galway gaol.

Not sure how accurate but
http://www.kennys.ie/News/OldGalway/05055005-GalwayGaol/
says it closed in 1939
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/20204
shows the start of the work by Sisk on the cathedral

On topic perhaps if you contacted a local undertaker they would know which cemeteries are still in use? I used to work with a man whose family business was undertaking (in Waterford) and he knew every one in a 50 mile radius

?Cee?view · 28-01-2011 1:32pm

Aoibhinn wrote: »

Hi Churchview,

This is really interesting, I never knew there was a cemetery behind Una Taaffes or that there was one in Lenaboy Gardens. Are these marked on Ordnance Survey maps? I would guess that the O'Hara graveyard hasn't been used since the early 1920s when they moved from Galway.

Kind regards,

Aoibhinn

Hi Aoibhinn,

Just see this now so sorry I've not been back to you before this.

You've got directions to the Lenaboy one. Another way to get there is to go in the gates next to the pharmacy which itself is next to Mortons (to the right of the Warwick). Then after about 100 metres, take the first left - (houses on the right hand side of this lane). Go to the end of the lane and there's a gap just to the left of the wall facing you. It's just through the gap, on your right.

Dunno if it or Taffees one are on OS but you can see them on google maps. Wrt Taffees, you can't really see any headstones on google maps. I don't know if there are any still there.

Mrs OBumble · 28-01-2011 11:48pm

Kinda glad that this thread has opened up again ...

The other day I heard a notice on GBFM about "Mass in [somewhere], funeral afterwards in Barna cemetery".

First I'd heard of one in Barna - anyone know where it is?

Also, while I'm at it, every so often there's a rash of people looking for "Mervue Funeral Home" - anyone know exactly what/where that is? (In my world a funeral home is where a funeral director works from, doesn't seem to be that way here).

ErnieBert · 29-01-2011 12:32am

JustMary wrote: »

Kinda glad that this thread has opened up again ...
The other day I heard a notice on GBFM about "Mass in [somewhere], funeral afterwards in Barna cemetery".
First I'd heard of one in Barna - anyone know where it is?

It's between O'Grady's Restaurant and Donnelly's Bar, on your left as you head towards the pier.

plentygood · 12-02-2011 1:28am

their is a small one (private i think) behind foster place/court estate you need a ladder to look over the wall it is at the back of the old building on college rd which backs up to foster place/ court

plentygood · 12-02-2011 1:29am

ErnieBert wrote: »

It's between O'Grady's Restaurant and Donnelly's Bar, on your left as you head towards the pier.

correction that is on your right when your going down towards the pier

missymoo. · 22-03-2011 11:27pm

Does anyone have information on Bolands Land in the Dr Mannix Road/ Glenard area of Salthill... it was the site of a cemetery, two wealthy sisters owned most of the land in this area and part of this was a cemetery apparently known as Boland's Cemetery, I know of the one in Lenaboy its not that..... any info would be great thanks

?Cee?view · 22-03-2011 11:33pm

missymoo. wrote: »

Does anyone have information on Bolands Land in the Dr Mannix Road/ Glenard area of Salthill... it was the site of a cemetery, two wealthy sisters owned most of the land in this area and part of this was a cemetery apparently known as Boland's Cemetery, I know of the one in Lenaboy its not that..... any info would be great thanks

The current Ardilaun was their home. They were the same family as the flour mills as far as I know.

missymoo. · 22-03-2011 11:48pm

thanks for that, yes Bolands did live/own the Ardilaun but does that mean that the cemetery that was in the grounds of the Ardilaun Hotel was the site of Bolands Cemetery??? i know bodies were exhumed out of the gardens of the Ardilaun but again not sure where they were finally laid to rest....... one other thing has anyone heard of the locked room in the Ardilaun Hotel ????

?Cee?view · 23-03-2011 12:14am

http://www.landedestates.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-show.jsp?id=1100

Google threw this up.

Persses were distillers. The nuig college bar is now where their distillery was. I suppose the graveyard you're talking about could have been a Persse graveyard?

The room - is that the room that's supposed to be haunted? I wouldn't imagine that the hotel publicises that much!

missymoo. · 23-03-2011 1:33am

Hi again,
Yes it was build for the Persses as the town house ten the bolands took over but that's all I can seem to find about the entire history of the Ardilaun
The cemetery may have been the persse families resting place but I am still curious to see if bolands cemetery is a separate place as my grandmother had often spoken of it.
All I know would be it was around the area of the maples.

I was fascinated by the info you have given can't wait to get digging through that, keep it coming you are better than any old Galway book.

Thanks again

Karona · 23-03-2011 2:33am

I live beside the old cemetary in Rahoon. Looks creepy and very old. Heard it goes back to the 1800's. Will have to check it out one of the days.

Cemeteries in Galway

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