Ballinrobe's Graveyards
A 17th centaury grave memorial located on the north wall of St. Mary's Church of Ireland, is an elegant memorial slab or tablet for Katherine Holcroft (died 20th January, 1668) who was married to Charles Holcroft or Holcrosse. He was one of the Loughrea Commissioners at the time of the Acts of Settlement and Restoration.
Photo Averil Staunton
Headstones in the Church of Ireland (now the Library) graveyard
Photo Averil Staunton
A table-stone memorial at the Augustin Abbey graveyard, Ballinrobe
Photo: Averil Staunton
The old graveyard at Carnalecks Church (Tempall Mór)
Photo: J. Staunton
A walled in celtic cross memorial in the Church (ruin) on the Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe.
Photo: Averil Staunton
The cheap headstone style Memorial to all those who died at the Ballinrobe Workhouse site located off the Kilmaine Road and adjoining the water towers.
Photo: Averil Staunton
The Sisters graveyard at St. Joseph's Convent, Ballinrobe
Photo: Pat McGovern
A Livesay headstone in the Tempall na Lecka graveyard at Cushlough, Ballinrobe.
Photo: Averil Staunton
Memorial within St. Mary's Catholic Church of Rev. T. Hardiman d. 1874 markes the location of his original grave which was originally outside the Church before extensions were added. Other members of the Clergy are buried outside within the grounds of St. Mary's Church
Photo: Averil Staunton
'I am what you will be; I was what you are now'
By Averil Staunton
The gravestones and grave slabs in Ballinrobe’s graveyards are all testaments to a congregation that lived, worked and contributed to the social fabric of Ballinrobe; all part of our vanishing heritage.
Unmarked graves
It must be remembered that many unmarked graves exist within some of these areas, particularly those that died of cholera and other epidemics that occurred in Ballinrobe. The Workhouse graveyard is one such example.
The Church of Ireland graveyard contains, amongst others, a large unmarked burial plot for “the paupers” as recorded in their archives. Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the plots for loved ones, as all evidence of their location is lost. In many cases, the markers were made of wood or metal, which would have perished over time.
Tangible connections
In addition to their aesthetic value and interest, churchyard monuments and memorials give a tangible connection with our history, in a manner which history books can never achieve. It brings people physically in touch with their history, and provides clues to historical events which shaped our country and our landscape.
Historical information
Graveyards yield much information for dating and supplying evidence of the social order of the community and the wealth and poverty of the congregation. They also contribute information for the changes to the fabric of the building and biographies of some of the men, women and children that lived in Ballinrobe, either permanently or temporarily, from the 17th century to the present day.
Genealogy
It can be difficult to trace family history in Ireland prior to 1850 as the fire in the Four Courts in 1922 was certainly no help to our country’s genealogical history. Memorials can often be the only record in existence of some people.
Ballinrobe's Graveyards
I have listed below some of Ballinrobe’s graveyards, while other outlying areas with graveyards have been omitted from this list and will be added to at a later date.
Lists of individual burials
Mr. Gerard Delaney, of the South Mayo Research Centre, has lists of some of those buried in these graveyards.
Ballinrobe's Graveyards or burial grounds:
Carnalecka (Tempall Mór), Old Graveyard, Ballyglass Rd.
New graveyard, Ballyglass Road, Ballinrobe.
St. Joseph's Convent, Convent Road. (Sisters' burials)
Workhouse graveyard, Kilmaine Road, Ballinrobe
St. Mary's Catholic Church, Main St. (Clergy burials)
Church of Ireland, (now Library) off Main Street.
Augustine Abbey, Abbey Street.
Old Catholic Church (ruin) Castlebar Rd (within Church).
Tempall na Lacka, Cushlough, Ballinrobe.