Cemetery: Drimnagh or the Bluebell Churchyard Memorials 

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Dublin Index
Copyright

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File contributed by: C. Hunt
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DRIMNAGH OR THE BLUEBELL CHURCHYARD MEMORIALS
    [From J. R. Fowler.] 

' All that now remains of the church is the west gable, 
containing a pointed door, and a window of the usual Norman 
type, and a fragment of the east end. The sides of the 
window mentioned above are composed of single pieces of 
stone. That of the north side had fallen slantwise across 
the window, and for many years had been a striking feature 
in any drawing made of the church. An antiquarian friend 
tried to restore this slab to its original position. Result: 
it lies in neatly smashed pieces on the ground below. 

'This parish is now merged in that of Clondalkin. 'Some of 
the inscriptions copied are highly interesting, especially 
that beginning: "Here lies the body of ANN WHELAN." ' 

* Sir Arthur Vicars informs me that the SEELE (or SEALE) 
Arms are: -- " A fess between three wolves' heads"; and that 
the SHELLEY family coat is : -- "Sable, a fess engrailed 
between three whelk-shells, or." So that it appears that 
those responsible for the erection of this slab to Dr. 
SEELE'S memory affixed the wrong coat-of-arms to it. 

[Memento IHS Mori.] 
[on Sun]. 

This Stone was Erected by MICHAEL MAHER BLEACHER, in 
Memory of his Father OWEN and his Mother MARGARETH 
Natives of Mountrath in the Queens County and six 
of his Children -- Ann Aged one year MARGARET Aged 
16 years SUSAN Aged 16 years Bridget Aged 20 years 
his Son LAURENCE Departed this Life August ye 14 1799 
Aged 24 years^the Lord have mercy on all their souls 
_____

+ 
Memento IHS Mori 
[On Sun.] 
This Stone and Burial Place Belongeth to Mr CHRISt
EUSTACE of Patrick Street Weaver and his Posterity 
Here lieth the Body of his Wife ELIZABETH EUSTACE who 
departed [this] life Nov the 5th 1763. 

Rest, if any, underground. 
_____

+ 
IHS 

Here lieth the body of CHRISTOPHER MOONY who 
DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 23d DAY OF Iuly 1736 IN THE 
42nd YEAR OF HIS AGE. 
(July)
_____

'The inscription next copied is just saved from oblivion, as 
the best part of the stone is rotten. Much is lost as it is 
' :- 

Here lieth the Body of JOHN DOWLING of Ash Street 
in the City of Dublin who departed this life the 8th of 
August 1786 ...................years. This stone 
was Erected to his Memory 

'The remainder is illegible.' 
_____

Gloria in Excelsis Deo 

+ 
Memento IHS Mori 

[In Circle.] 

This Stone was Erected by Mr THOMAS FAGAN for him 
and his Posterity. here lieth the body of his Dearly 
Beloved wife MARGRET FAGAN who Departed this life 
Novr 1772 aged 32 years and four of his children. 

-31- 

'The next three stones were so thickly covered with ivy that 
I could not get it off to read them.' 
_____

Gloria in Excelsis Deo 
Memento I H S Mori 

Here lieth the remains of Mr PHILIP HINES of Bow Street in 
the City of Dublin A man of singular Benevolence of mind and 
goodness of heart, an affectionate husband a tender parent 
and sincere friend he merited the friendfhip of all and the 
enmity of none His Beloved wife Mrs MARY HINES erected this 
stone in testimony of love to him while living and to 
Perpetuate his memory now Dead He departed this Life the 
16th day of June 1791 Aged 50 years Lord have mercy on his 
Soul Here also lieth 4 of his Children 
_____

+ 
[Flaming I H S [Flaming 
Chalice.] [On Sun.] Chalice.] 
[Cherub.] 
Gloria in Excelsis Deo. 

This Stone was Erected by MARY HIGGS No 30 Marys 
Lane in Memory of her Beloved Husband ARTHUR HIGGS 
who Departed this life the 24th of November 1807 aged 
39 years Also four of his children. 
_____

+ 
IHS 

[On Sun.] 

This Stone was Erected by Mrs MARGT BISHOP of Leeson 
Street in Memory of her Husband TERANCE (!) BISHOP 
who Departed this Life Octr 23d 1774 aged 30. 
_____

+ 
Gloria in IHS Excelsis Deo 
[On Sun.] 
This Stone and Burial Place was Erected by ANN 
DOURLY in Memory of her Beloved Husband JOHN 
DOURLY who departed this Life the 2d of March 1819 in 
the 40 th year of his Age also Four of his children who 
died young 

-32 -

+ 
IHS 
[On Sun.] 
This Stone and Burial Place Belongeth to EDWARD HOGG 
of Ormond Market Victualler and his Posterity Here 
lyeth the Body of his wife ELINOR HOGG who Departed 
this Life the 18th of December 1762 aged 41 years of 
two of his children IOHN HOGG Son of the above Died 
Decr 4 1813 
(John Hogg)
_____

Gloria in Excelsis Deo 
IHS 
[On Sun.] 
Memento Mori 
As a small tribute of conjugal affection This Stone was 
erected by BRIDGET DUNN in memory of her beloved 
Husband MATTHEW DUNN who on the 13 th of March 1799 
Closed the mortal Scene in the 49 th year of his age Here 
lieth the remains of their Son MATTHEW who died young. 
_____

+ 
[Cherub.] IHS [Cherub.] 
[On Sun.] 
Here lyeth the Body of ANN WHELAN 
Who has not left her Fellow on the Strand 
Alas she is gone that good Neighbour 
Who always paid the Poor for Labour 
Nor drove the Beggar from her door 
But gentle was to Rich and Poor 
God let her have a blessed Seat 
And let her Offspring all be great 
The good Mother the good Wife 
Who done no Ill and hated Strife 

'There is no date on this most interesting tombstone, or, if 
there is, it must be very far below ground, for I poked down 
for some inches, but saw nothing else.' 
_____

+ 
IHS 
This Stone and Burial place Belongeth to Mr PETER 
O'NEIL of the City of Dublin and his Posterity Here 
lyeth [stone broken] PETR O'NAILE Who Departed this 
Life the 19 th of Septr 1748 Aged 49 years 

-33-

+ 
IHS 
This Stone and Burial place belongeth to CHRISTOPHER 
DARCY of Ransford Street & his Posterity here lieth 
..................
'Rest underground.' 
_____

+ 
IHS 
This Stone and burial place belongeth to PHILIP WALSH 
of st. James Street of the City of Dublin and his 
posterity Here lyeth fiue [sic] of his children Viz, 
OLIVER MARY ELIZABETH MARGRATE and ROSE WALSH Anno 
Domini 1744 
_____

Gloria in Excelsis Deo 
+ 
[Cherub.] IHS [Cherub.] 
Memento Mori 
This Stone Was Erected by MARY ANN NOWLAN in 
Memory of her Late Husband Mr PATT NOWLAN of 
Mountrath Queens. County who Deprd this life 11 th 
January 1808 Aged 48 years 
_____

+ 
[Cherub.] I H S [Cherub.] 
This Stone was Erected by DENIS BRAY of Fleet Street 
Dublin in Memory of his dearly beloved Wife CATHERINE 
BRAY who departed this Life the 1st Augst 1809 in the 
29th, year of her age also two of their Children who 
Died Young. 
_____

Gloria in Excelsis Deo 
[Chalice.] IHS [Chalice.] 
Memento Mori 
In remembrance of the 
many Virtues of a beloved Husband 
This Stone was Erected 

-34- 

by ANNE DUNNE of Coles Lane 
to mark the spot 
where be deposited the remains of 
JOSEPH DUNNE Builder 
who with Confidence in God 
departed this life the 24th of August 1828 
Aged 40 years 
Here also lie two of their Children 
who died young 
_____

Gloria in Excelsis Deo 
[Flaming Chalice.] I H S [Flaming Chalice.] 
This Stone was Erected by Mrs MARY CUNNINGHAM in 
Memory of her Dearly Beloved Husband Mr, ANDW 
CUNNINGHAM who Departed this Life the 10th of 
February 1865 Aged 54 years Late of Gt Britain St, Also 
4 of their Children 





SOURCE:
Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the 
Memorials of the Dead in Ireland.  Vol vii, FHL# 1279254