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Ballycannon graveyard
© Ballycannon graveyard

There is a new graveyard in the parish located in Ballycannon. This graveyard is under the care of Clare County Council and is located at a site midway between Parteen and Meelick. This graveyard was opened in 1987.

Kilquane graveyard
© Kilquane graveyard

The graveyard at Kilquane is situated around the site of the church ruin. This graveyard contains a large number of tombs and vaults. There are large tombs to the Holmes and Fitzgerald families. The graveyard is kept in good condition and the oldest headstone that we came across was to the memory of Joane Mynaha who died in April 1708.

According to the Ordnance Survey Letters Clare Vol. II of 1839 Philip Mac Adam is also buried in Kilquane graveyard. Mac Adam showed the army of King William where they could cross the River Shannon to attack the city of Limerick from the north in 1691. A chain was placed across the river to enable the soldiers to cross the river. The chain was tide to a rock on the north side, which became known as Carraig a tSlabhra, the Rock of the Chain.

MacAdam died on 24 June 1729 at the age of 33 but during our visit to Kilquane cemetery we were unable to located Mac Adam's grave.

Graveyard in church grounds in Meelick
© Graveyard in church grounds in Meelick

There is also a graveyard in the church grounds in Meelick village. The oldest headstone that we came across was to the Nix family. One of the inscriptions on the headstone was to Robert Nix who died on December 18th 1911.

Moneen graveyard
© Moneen graveyard

There is a graveyard in Moneennagliggin South called Moneen. This graveyard is situated about 200 yards form the roadside. From the graveyard there is a clear view of the surrounding countryside. The graveyard has fallen into disuse in recent years. There are some tombs in the graveyard.

The oldest headstone that we came across was from 1801 and it is to the memory of Margaret Donohue who died on July 7th of that year aged 17. There is no evidence of a church at this site.

There is also a famine graveyard in Rossmadda, near the Headrace canal belonging to the power station in Ardnacrusha. There was also a children's burial ground at this site. The site is visible but is now overgrown by trees.

Site of Famine graveyard in Rosmada
© Site of Famine graveyard in Rosmada

According to local man John White, a number of Roman Catholics are buried in the grounds of the Church of Ireland church in Meelick. This church is sometimes referred to Punchbowl church even though it is in the townland of Knockroe. Three catholic families use this graveyard, the Ringroses, the Frosts, and the Woods. According to The History & Folklore of Parteen and Meelick there is a headstone to the Ringrose family in the graveyard. Today four plots to various members of the Frost family are clearly visible in the graveyard.

Punchbowl Graveyard
© Punchbowl Graveyard

Alongside the main road in Meelick in the townland of Knockalisheen, there is a famine graveyard called Killavoha. The name is derived from the Irish Cill a Bothar, which means the Church of the Road. However, there is no evidence that a church was ever on this site. There is only one visible headstone in this small, narrow graveyard. It is to the memory of John Brinan (Brennan) who died on March 22nd 1727, aged 32.

Close up of headstone in Killavoha
© Close up of headstone in Killavoha

There are references to a burial ground in Coonagh and a place for unbaptised children called Cealltrach in the townland of Clonconane in The History and Folklore of Parteen and Meelick.

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