Cemetery: BallmacWilliam Churchyard

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Offaly (Kings) Index
Copyright

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File contributed by: C.Hunt & Jacquie Liddiard

BALLMACWILLIAM CHURCHYARD, COUNTY OFFALY (KINGS)
[From Lord Walter FitzGerald)

This churchyard lies by the side of the public road leading 
to Road from Edenderry, and three miles to the west of the 
latter place. Considerable remains of the church ruins still 
stand; but, as far as one can see through the growth of 
heavy ivy, no windows remain intact.  A doorway, with a 
pointed arch of cut stonework, is situated at the west end 
of the south wall.  The interior of the ruins is choked up 
with elder bushes. There are numerous headstones in the 
churchyard, but the older ones are overgrown with ivy. 
Inside the ruins, at the west end, lies a large slab bearing 
the following inscription :

+
HIS
This Monument was Erected by Mrs. Elizabeth
Dowell in Memory of her Niece Anne
Hogan, who Departed this Life August
yr 17th 1778 Aged 10 yrs Derservedly beloved
while in the Life, and Died Universally
Lamented.  Also in Memory of her Sister
Elenor Delamare, who Departed this Life
December yr 25th 1778, Aged 38.
Also in Memory of James Delamare,
who Departed this life August the 20th 1795,
Aged 20 years.  Also in Memory of her
Father Walter Delamare who departed
this Life January the 4th 180-, Aged 61
years.  Lord have Mercy on their souls Amen.

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Close to this slab is another, which, though bearing no 
inscription, has a large coat-of-arms cut in bold relief on 
it.  The shield is surrounded with "lambrequin"; above it is 
a helmet, surmounted by a falcon, with expanded wings.  The 
shield bears two coats-of-arms.  In the dexter half there is 
a lion rampant between three crescents, an estoiler issuant 
form each, over all a fess.  In the sinister half is a fret.

'Mr G D Burtchaell, Athlone Pursuivant-at-Arms, informs me 
that the arms in the dexter half of the shield are those of 
Dillon. of Riverstown Co. Meath.'

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By the north wall, inside the ruins, is a large table tomb, 
bearing and inscription, which is completely hid under a 
slab placed face downwards on it.

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Source:
Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the 
Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Vol. IX  (FHL# 1279285)