Interments in the Blessington area

When it was proposed to flood the Liffey Valley as far as Poulaphouca and create a great reservoir one issue that arose was the old graveyard at Burgage. The remains of those interred there, as well as monuments, headstones and other markings, would have to be moved to higher ground. In the middle 1930s the work began. An impressive granite wall, piers and gates would enclose the new cemetery, again at Burgage. The Assistant County Engineer, Patrick J. Foley, drew up the plans. He divided the old graveyard into grids numbering 1 to 1,123. The remains in each grid would be carefully coffined and moved to a corresponding grid in the new cemetery. Likewise with St. Mark`s Cross, headstones and other indicators of graves. A register of the re-interments was compiled. Given in the register is the person’s age, address, occupation, religion and date of burial. There was no information available for some of the graves. However this register can provide a source for people tracing their forbears in the Blessington/ Ballymore Eustace area.

Church of Ireland clergymen, unlike their Catholic brethren, were obliged to keep records of burials. So, tracing people interred at their Blessington graveyard, since the 1680’s is relatively easy. Many of the old families of Blessington can trace their roots there. The well known famine diarist, Elizabeth Smith, lies there, with husband Henry, and son Jack, who died so young. In the year 1850 took place the wedding of Anne Smith, daughter of the above Elizabeth to James King, then of Humphreystown House, at St. Mary’s Church. Bells ringing, the Quality in their finery, and horses & carriages everywhere , it was a spectacle to remember. And now, after all the strutting and fretting, only peace.

Scurlock`s Graveyard is situated at the bottom of the Red Lane in the direction of the lake. The name Scurlock appears in Ireland towards the end of the 12th century, and is also, of course, associated with the townland of Scurlock’ s Leap in Manor Kilbride. It is likely that this is the site of the old church known as Capella de Villa Cumyn. Scurlock’s Holy Well, also on site, was much frequented on St. John’s Eve, mainly by women having rickety or delicate children, rags being put on the bush over the well by these women in hope of a cure. The graveyard now presents itself in a forlorn and desolate way. Headstones are moss covered and falling down. Images of Pip meeting the convict in ‘Great Expectations’ come to mind. I was able to decipher some of the inscriptions. The Byrne family of Newtown Great were interred here between the years 1869 and 1914. Also the name White appears. Another was Richard Osborn who died in 1813 aged 50. The oldest date I could make out was 1771, but I’m sure there are many older than that.

At Crosschapel a number of priests are buried. Rev. Roger Miley was interred here in 1801. A man of integrity in difficult times, he tried to calm his parishioners in 1798 when the Downshire mansion was burned , along with many other premises in Blessington. A letter he sent at this time to Archbishop Troy in Dublin describing the chaos and turmoil is still in existence. It was he who purchased the land at Crosschapel for the original church there. The Parochial House was erected on that same land in 1813, towards which the Marquis donated 50 guineas. A plaque inside the chapel reminds us of Rev. Miley’s ministry in Blessington up to 1801. Opposite his plaque is another, dedicated to Rev. Peter Duffy, C.C., who died in 1862. Outside are the graves of Jacobi Carroll, 1916, Francis Maguire, 1928, Rev. Patrick Hanley, and James Hamilton, 1885.

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