Source: Athenry FAS Teamwork Scheme 1991

Team Leader: Mrs. Marie Fahy

Sponsors: Athenry Project Society

Athenry New Cemetery Mass 2009

In June 1913 the medical officer for Athenry area, Dr. Quinlan, wrote to the Loughrea District Council as follows:-

“As medical officer of health of the Athenry Dispensary District, I hereby report to you that my attention has been called to the condition of the graveyard at the Abbey, Athenry.    It is in a most unkept and neglected condition. It is overgrown with weeds of all kinds, so much so that it is impossible to go through it and it appears to be overcrowded and it is totally inadequate in size for the requirements of a large parish or district. I understand that an extension is being provided – until such an addition is made to the graveyard I would suggest that no more interments take place there.  I would also suggest that the weeds be cut and a couple of walks be made through it and that they be kept in repair and gravelled“.

The Council Chairman Mr. R.P. Nolan proposed that a quantity of land not exceeding one acre be acquired and added to the Abbey Burial ground.  The owners of the Burial ground at the time were the representatives of the late Dr. Leonard, a former dispensary doctor. ”          

Miss B. Leonard informed the Council in reply to a request from them, that her family had no objection to the Abbey Burial being vested in the District Council (July 1913).

Efforts to extend the Abbey Burial ground came to nothing as the owner of the adjoining land refused to sell any land.

The nearby Estate of W.B. Persse was in the hands of the Congested District Board in 1915.  A Committee consisting of Canon Canton, Mr. R. P. Nolan and Mr. P. McDonagh was appointed to negotiate with the C.D.B. as to the terms of purchase.

 On August 21st 1915 the Congested District Board replied as follows:-

Very Rev. Sir,

“With reference to your letter of the 16th of June last I am directed by the C.D.B. for Ireland to inform you that they are prepared to sell to the Rural District Council 3a-0r-28p for the purposes of a burial ground at Athenry for the sum of £65 together with stamp duty and fees provided that the Council enclose the plot with a masonry wall not less than 5ft high to the satisfaction of the Board’s officers”.

Signed

J.R. O’Brien

And so the Abbey Burial ground was left to the nobility and gentry who were buried there from the time of the coming of the Dominicans to Athenry in 1241.

In October 1915 Canon Canton asked the C.D.B. to mark the boundary of the plot and the Council agreed to pay £65 for it.

At a Council meeting in March 1917 the question of selling “beds” or plots was addresse3 and the Council charge of £3 for plots 7 foot  X 7 foot was agreed.

At the April meeting Mr. John Broderick was paid £60 on account for building a wall around the Cemetery.

In July of 1917 the Council had a letter from Canon Canton stating that he with the Presbyterian and Protestant Rectors and two District Councillors would make arrangements for the position of walks, graves etc. Canon Canton said he would provide the entrance gates and erect them free.   Mr. John Broderick’s tender of £90 for constructing hearse – way and paths was accepted.

The Boyhill Cemetery Committee including the ministers of religion of different denominations in Athenry had agreed to set apart a portion of the Cemetery at the South Western side for the burial of Protestants and another portion on the Eastern side for the burial of strangers or poor persons who would be unable to purchase a grave.

In November 1917, Mr. Charles White was appointed caretaker and registrar at a salary of £20 p.a.

The first people to book grave spaces in the cemetery were Mrs. Callanan, Michael Jennings, Mr. Mahon Athenry, John Daly, and Pat Cusack Castle Ellen who was told by the Council that he had to pay £4 as he was outside the Rural District of Athenry.

In June 1921 the Council acknowledged the sum of £1 paid to the Cemetery Committee for a grave space for Canon Canton who died in August 1920.

Some of the earliest tombstones in Boyhill Cemetery are erected to Joseph Mahon who died March 27th 1919, Winifred Clancy died 26th March 1920 and John Broderick who died January 1922 aged 84 years.

 Canon Canton’s headstone reads

‘0 Sacred Heart of Jesus Have mercy on the soul Qf

Very Rev^d Joseph Canon Canton (Precentor)

For thirty years P.P. of Athenry

Who died on August 14th 1920 Aged 70 years’

 Erected by his sisters

   And of his sister Mary

    who died Dec 24th 1927 R.I.P.