Kilbride Church Graveyard, Killiskea, County Offaly, Ireland
Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Offaly Index
Copyright
Contributed by: Bernard M. Doheny
Transcribed by: C. Hunt
Photos
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KILBRIDE CHURCH GRAVEYARD, KILLISKEA, COUNTY OFFALY,
IRELAND

Photo No.0
Sign:
St. Brigid's Church - Kilbride
The early Christian monks built a Church here in the 8/9
century Like Durrow monastery it became a special centre of
Christian worship for centuries to come. Penal times
brought persecution and destruction in the late 17th &
early 18th centuries. As a result the last Masses in this
parish of Kilbride were celebrated by Frs. BRIAN GEOGHEGAN,
EDMUND CAROLAN and JOHN COONAN. The latter two were
arrested and imprisoned in Philipstown in 1712 Masses were
celebrated secretly in homes and on Mass rocks during those
Penal years. Even though Kilbride Church fell into disuse
and ruins it remained an important burial ground. Countless
people were buried here during Famine times Mass was next
celebrated in 1988 by Fr. RORY O'BRIEN a native of the
Parish. May the history of this hallowed and holy ground of
Kilbride inspire us and future generations to renew our
faith in God "Faith of our Fathers living still" Our thanks
to Tim Hanlon for his inspirational leadership of this
project Erected October 2003

Photo No.1
The Mass Tree at Killiskea
If this Kilbride Church, its cemetery and grounds could
tell its story, we would hear stories of courage, sorrow,
faith in God, oppression, famine and death. One such story
in our tradition is about Fr. JOHN DALY. He frequently
travelled by horse back from Kilbeggan, crossing the
Ballykilmurry hills to Kilbride to celebrate mass. He had
his friends but also his enemies. The Yewmen went searching
for him on many occasions. If he was caught it meant
certain death.

Once while saying mass in Kilbride in 1710, his vigilantes
always on the watch out on his behalf rushed to his side
with the news that the Yewmen were coming. He quickly his
the sacred vessels and his congregation scattered.

Later Fr. DALY celebrated mass at a white thorn bush,
beside a small hill some 800 yards east of the church, in
Killiskea. Since this day this bush has always been
referred to as THE MASS TREE. This mass bush blooms every
year before others.

We of this generation thank and praise God for the courage
and faith of Fr. DALY, his brother priests and the
Christian strength of the lay faithful of that era.

Photo No.2
View of Church ruins

Photo No.3
View of cemetery

Photo No.4
Another cemetery view

Photo No.5
Another cemetery view

Photo No.6
Erected by JOHN BRACKEN | in memory of his son | ANTHONY
BRACKEN who | departed this life Augst. | 26th 1812 Aged 16
years | May he rest in peace | Amen | Also DENIS who died |
April 1883 Aged 65 and | His  wife MARY who | Died July
1888 Aged 64 | JOSEPH BRACKEN Died 19th Feb. 1924 | Aged 60
years | Also his son THOMAS Died 16th April | Aged 25
Years.

Photo No.7
Gloria In Excelsis Deo | Erected by MARGARET BRACKEN | in
memory of her Husband | IOHN BRACKEN Who Deprd This | Life
10th April 1854 aged 66 years.
(JOHN BRACKEN)

Photo No.8
In Loving Memory of | JAMES BURKE 1843-1903 | BRIDGET BURKE
1844-1903 | PATRICK BURKE 1804-1863 | Father of JAMES |
ELLEN BURKE 1813-D.O.D. Unknown | Mother of JAMES | Rest in
Peace, Amen.

Photo No.9
Erected By | MARTIN & JOHN BYRNE | of Cartron | In Memory
of Their Beloved Father | JOHN BYRNE | Who Departed This
Life | July 28th 1852 | Aged 40 Years | Also His Wife |
MARY BYRNE | Died January 2nd 1850 | Aged 38 Years.

Photo No.10
IHS | Have pity on me at least you my friends | Blessed are
the dead who died in the Lord | Of your charity pray for
the eternal repose of | the soul of PATRICK JOSEPH BYRNE
Kilgurtin | who fortified with the rites of the church |
died August 26th 1872 Aged 66 years | Also Rev MARTIN J
BYRNE | Died August 27th 1875 | Aged 53 years | Mrs ELLEN
Died ..th? Dec. 1940 | PATRICK Died 27th April 19_3? |
MARY BYRNE Died 19th Jan 1966 | Siser (?) BONAVENTURE | BYRNE
died July .. 1983 |
(Kilgortin?)

Photo No.11
Erected | by PATRICK CREAVEN in memory | of his Daughter
MARY CREAVIN | who departed this life January 1st | 1856?
aged 26 years | also his affectionate wife JULIA CREAVIN |
departed December ..th 1869? aged 76 years | May their
Souls rest in peace Amen | CATHERINE CRAVEN Died 18th Aug.
1923 | Her Son PATRICK Died 9th Feby 1948 | Her Husband
JOHN Died 28th March 1961 | And Their Son JOSEPH | Died 14
(?) Jan 1999 Aged 75 Years.
(Per Irishgenealogy.ie Julia Craven died 15 Dec 1866 at
Ballinamuire)

Photo No.12
Erected By | ESSEY DIMPSEY in Memory of her Beloved |
Husband THOMAS DIMPSEY who Died | Oct 20th 18.. Aged 6_?
Years | Also Their ... MAT... (?) Died | Sept ...  Aged ..

Photo No.13
DOWLING (DOOLIN) Ballycowan | in Memory of | MICHAEL died
6th May 1919 aged 61 years | and his wife MARGARET | died
9th July 1939 aged 66 years | also their sons MICHAEL
JOSEPH | died 15th May 1965 aged 73 years | ANDREW died
19th Sept. 1973 aged 67 years | their daughter ELIZABETH |
died 25th Feb 199_? aged 81 years | Their grand-daughter
ELIZABETH MARY | died 3rd Feb 1944 aged 6 months | Rest in
Peace.

Photo No.14
In Loving Memory of | NORA HANLON (nee CONROY) | Ballycowan
| Died 25th March 1984 aged 61 Years | Her infant son DAVID
GERARD HANLON | Died 17th December 1963 Aged 3 Months | Her
Brother-in-Law SEAMUS (JAMES) HANLON | Ballycowan | Died
22nd November 2017 Aged 92 Years | Her Husband TIMOTHY
(TIM) HANLON | Ballycowan | Died 1st January 2019 Aged 101
Years | Rest in Peace.

Photo No.15
In Loving Memory of | PATRICK HANLON Ballycowan | Died 19th
February 1879 Aged 86 Years | His Wife MARGARET (PEGGY)
(Nee COSTELLO) | Died 26th June 1868 Aged 80 Years | JAMES
O'HANLON | Died 7th January 1758 | TIMOTHY HANLON
Ballycowan | Died 14th August 1909 Aged 92 Years | His wife
CATHERINE (Nee GRENNAN) | Died 7th March 1909 Aged 73 Years
| JAMES HANLON | Died circa. 1901 Aged 25 Years | MARGARET
HANLON | Died 27th November 1924 Aged 53 Years | MICHAEL
HANLON | Died 25th September 1953 Aged 74 Years | His Wife
ELLEN (Nee LEE) | Died 4th April 1968 Aged 84 Years | Rest
in Peace.

Photo No.16
IHS | This Monument ... by | MARTIN HANON of Hill...? | in
memory of his ... | JOHN HA...  | [rest illegible]

Photo No.17
In Loving | Memory of | ANNIE KONARNEY (?) | who ... |
April 30th 1909 Aged 55 | Years.

Photo No.18
Gloria in Excelsis Deo | Sacred to the memory of | BRIDGET
McDONNELL alias DUNNE | who died 22nd April 18..? | Aged 29
years | This monument was erected | by her father BERNARD
DUNNE | of Ballycown as a testimonial | of her many ...es.

Photo No.19
(Cross)
CARMEL & ANN | CUM...?


All images Copyright by Photographer