Gravestones and Monuments of the Hill of Ward Cemetery

The Hill of Ward Cemetery is located about 1 mile from Athboy, in the townland of Wardstown and close to the famous Hill of Tlachtga. The cemetery is situated about 200 yards off the road. It is a very old cemetery and is located around the ruins of an ancient church called variously Remembrance Church, Teampall Cuimhne or Kil Cuimhne. All that remains of this ruin now is part of a gable end wall. The oldest inscription I found dates from 1723, although it is highly likely that it was a burial ground long before that.

This cemetery is now sadly overgrown and neglected although some people do still maintain their family burial plots there. It is many years since the last interment.

Headstone inscriptions were recorded in Hill of Ward Cemetery in the 1980s by Noel E French and published by him. The inscription which I publish here uses his work as a reference and is updated as necessary from my own survey. This is a complete list of headstone inscriptions in this cemetery as of summer 2016.

AHERN and McMENAMIN. We have loved her in life. Let us not forget her in death. Erected by Patrick and Helena Ahern in loving memory of their beloved daughter Lillie McMenanin who died 10th Nov 1915. Also her mother Helena Ahern who died 19th March 1919.

ALLEN and COYLE. Erected by James Allen in memory of his father James Allen died 7th Oct 1935 aged 79 years. Also his mother died 5th of March 1936 aged 83 years. Also her child Richard aged 4 years. Mrs Mary Anne Coyle died 12th April 1944 aged 59 years. James Allen died 13th Feb 1947 aged 57 years. RIP. Kate Allen died 17th Feb 1969.

ALLEN. This stone was erected by Richard Allen of Causestown in memory of his beloved wife Ellen Allen who departed this life December 23rd 1867 aged 42 years.

BOHEN. In loving memory of Mrs Anne Bohen, Clonfane died 28th Feb 1926. Jane Bohen died 11th Nov 1928. John Bohen died 4th Sept 1953 aged 82 years. RIP

BOLAND. In loving memory of Mrs Margaret Boland 92 East Road Dublin died 7th April 1938 aged 70 years. Robert Boland died 25th June 1952 aged 87 years. RIP. Erected by her husband Robert Boland

BUTTERLY. Erected by Mary Butterly in memory of her parents, brother and sisters, Mary Anne Butterly died 5th May 1967. RIP

CASSIDY and WARD. Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on the souls of John Cassidy Brookside Athboy who died 24th Oct 1882. His wife Francis died 21st Nov 1915 and their child Mary aged 3 years. Annie Francis Cassidy died 22nd Dec 1945. Frances Ward died 27th Jan 1958. Catherine Ann Cassidy died 2nd Feb 1963. Erected by their sorrowing children. RIP

CLOCHIRON and/or REILY. Here lyeth ye body of Henry Clochiron who departed this life ye 29th of Jany 1723 aged 51 years. Also ye body of Cathrn Reily his wife. This stone was erected by his son Richard

COMMONS. Erected by Cornelius Commons to the sacred memory of his wife Catherine Commons who died 18th July 1908 aged 77 years. The above Cornelius Commons died 20th Jan 1911 aged 92 years.

CROSBEY. Erected by Mary Crosbey of Grange in memory of her beloved husband James Crosbey who departed this life the 23rd of Febr 1865 aged 37 years.

CROSBY. This monument was erected by James Crosby of Allenstown for himself and his posterity. Here lieth the body of Elizabeth Crosby alias Kiain his mother who departed this life June the 20th 1754 aged 50 years. Also his father Patrick Crosby who departed November 15th 1779 aged 86 years. Also Elizabeth Crosby alias Dooley his wife who died April 24th 1800 aged 58 years.

CUNNINGHAM and WARD. Of your charity pray for the soul of Luke Cunningham who died on 21st September 1855 in the 70th year of his age. Also his wife Frances who died 1876. Also William Ward died 20 Nov 1912.

CUSACK. In loving memory or John Cusack died 17th Oct 1939. Also his daughters Kathleen died 28th Oct 1940. And Rose died 23rd Jan 1943. His wife Catherine died 10th June 1977 RIP.

DALY. Erected by Matthew, Joseph and Michael Daly to the memory of their brother James Daly, Athboy, who died 4th April 1894 aged 27 years. Their mother Margaret Daly died 26th July 1894 aged 68 years. Their father James Daly died 8th Jan 1899 aged 75 years and their sister Jane Daly died 2 Dec 1902 aged 48 RIP.

DONOHOE. Sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on the deceased parents wife and relative of Peter Donohoe Dunsany Co Meath 1921 RIP.

DOOGAN. Here lyeth the body of John Doogan who departed August 20th 1770 aged 80 years. Also his wife Margaret Doogan departed July 4th 1787 aged 78 years. Also his son…

DUNNE and CASSIDY. In loving memory of James Dunne late of Hill of Ward. His wife Catherine. Their son Patrick. Their daughters Catherine, Anne husband Michael and his parents James and Jane Cassidy Gillstown. RIP

FARRELLY. Philip Farrelly died 31st July 1939. His wife Julia died 11th Jan 1927. Their daughter Margaret died 10th Dec 1958. RIP

FEAGAN. Erected by Edward Feagan of Stonestown in memory o. RIP his beloved father James Feagan who departed this life April 13th 1784 aged 53 years. Also his brother Andrew who departed this life January 19th 1824 aged 53 years. Also the body of Edward Feagan who departed this life the 21st December 1826 aged 72 years.

FINN. Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of John C Finn died 18th Sept 1931 aged 71 years. And his wife Elizabeth Finn died 15th May 1934 aged 62 years. RIP

GERAGHTY. In loving memory of Patrick Geraghty, Fosterfields Athboy, who died on the 3rd Sept 1944

GOLLAN. Erected by Michael Gollan in memory of his fathr Denis Gollan who died Janry 13th 1807 aged 65. (Remainder unreadable)

HESNAN. In loving memory of Mrs Mary Hesnan Hill of Ward died 22nd Nov 1934. James Hesnan died 22 Jan 1935

HIGGINS. In affectionate memory of our dear parents Edward Higgins Athboy who died 29th April 1903 aged 60 years. Also his devoted wife Kate who died 24th Nov 1915 aged 71 years. Also their daughters Lissa died 6th Dec 1946 RIP and Mary died 9th Oct 1947. Loo died 15th Sept 1950 and their son James died 24th May 1954.

KAVENAGH and GILROY. In loving memory of William Kavenagh died 4th April 1952. His father John died 4th Mar 1922. His mother Margaret died 14th Nov 1924. His nephew Michael Gilroy died 11th Feb 1935. His wife Mary died 24th Sept 1956 RIP.

LAMBE. In loving memory of Catherine Lambe Athboy died 23rd March 1933 aged 38 years. RIP

MacCIONNAITH. I Ndíl cuimhne Mhichíl Mhic Cionnaith d’eag 18ad lá d’Abrain 1929 agus a mhná Brid d’eag 29adh lá de Mheanfoir 1912. A mhac Sean d’eag 29adh lá d’Eanair 1970

McCORMACK. In fond and loving memory of our dear father and mother James McCormack Derrylangan Athboy who died 28th Nov 1927. Also Mrs Annie McCormack who died 27th Oct 1947. Also their son and daughter who died young. Also their son John died 7th Aug 1965. Also Bridget McCormack died 14th March 1968. RIP

McCORMACK. In memory of the McCormack family (Fordrath) herds on the Alley farm from the mid-1800s.

McCORMACK. Pray for Thomas McCormack RIP (This inscription is from the work of Noel E French. This wooden cross is no longer visible)

McDANNEL. Thomas McDannel died May 12th 1768 aged 80 years. (This inscription is from the work of Noel E French. This grave marker is no longer visible)

McKENNA. Erected by James McKenna in memory of his father Patrick McKenna who departed this life June 12th 1827 aged 84 years. Also two of his children and his brother Owen McKenna who departed this life Dec 14th 1831 aged 44 years.

McKENNA. In loving memory of Anne McKenna Mullaghstones died 16 July 1953 aged 75. Her husband John died 10 Jan 1958 aged 90. Their son John died 27 Jan 2002 aged 81. His sister Elizabeth died 28th May 2003 aged 79 RIP

McKENNA. Of your charity pray for the soul of Michael McKenna who departed this life January the 23rd 1852 aged 75 years. And for that of his daughter Catherine McKenna who died March the 11th 1848 aged 25 years. Also his wife Mary McKenna who departed this life Oct 12th 1856.

McNAMEE. In loving memory of Margaret McNamee Gillstown Athboy died 14th January 1971 aged 96 years. Her husband James died 22nd Aug 1935 aged 61. Their daughter Masie died 22nd April 1934. Their son James died Feb 1974. John died 27th July 1974. Michael died 15th Jan 1984. RIP

MULLIGAN. In loving memory of John Mulligan and his wife Catherine. Their sons John and Michael and daughter Mary. Also Margaret RIP.

MURPHY. In loving memory of John Murphy Hill of Ward Athboy died 28th Feb 1932. Also his wife Catherine died 9th Aug 1971. RIP

MURPHY. Pray for the repose of the soul of George Murphy Athboy died 27th December 1940. His wife Elizabeth died 8th January 1938. Their children George died 13th May 1913. Annie Rose died 24th July 1918. James died 6th Dec 1938. His brother Terence died 29th Jan 1936.

MURRAY. Erected by Annie Murray in loving memory of her parents John and Catherine and their children

MURRY. This stone was erected by Peter Murry in memory of his daughter Rose Murry who departed this life June the 25th 1824 aged 20 years. Lord have mercy on her.

MURTAGH and WARD. Erected by Jane Murtagh of Athboy in memory of James and Anne Ward. The former died March 19th 1835 aged 56. The later June 1st 1854 aged 68. Also in memory of her most beloved son James Murtagh who died May the 16th 1856 aged 32. Jane Murtagh died May the 23rd 1864 aged 61. John Murtagh Castletown Athboy died 6th March 1892 aged 67 years. May they rest in peace.

NEWMAN. Erected by Thomas Newman Athboy in sad and loving memory of his dear wife Julia died 20th July 1931 aged 68 years. Also the above Thomas Newman who died 20th Feb 1939.

O’REILY. Erected in memory of Rev William O’Reily Derrylangan Athboy. Pat O’Reily. John O’Reily. Mary O’Reily. Mrs Jeanie O’Reily. Bernard O’Reily died 30th Aug 1969. Erected by Bernard O’Reily.

SHERIDAN. In memory of Patrick Sheridan died 11th Feb 1954 RIP

SHERLOCK. In loving memory of Patrick C Sherlock, Sherlockstown, who died 22nd June 1933 aged 14 years. RIP

SHERLOCK. In loving memory of Patrick Sherlock Wardstown Athboy died 19th Jan 1941. Mary Sherlock died 14th Jan 1969. Laurence Sherlock died 22 Nov 1974. RIP

SHERLOCK. In loving memory of Peter Sherlock Sherlockstown died 27th Aug 1937. His son Patrick died 22nd June 1933. Also his wife Elizabeth died 13th Aug 1964. His son Joseph died 22nd May 1958 interred in the new cemetery Athboy. RIP. Erected by his family

SMITH. Erected by Annie Smith in loving memory of her husband Laurence Smith Derlangan dier Jan 20th 1933 aged 56 years. The above Annie died 4th Dec 1954 aged 79 years. Christopher Smith died 10th Nov 1953 aged 72 years.

SMYTH. Of your charity pray for the soul of Julia Smyth Derlangan died July 4th 1890 aged 32 years. Also for the soul of Christopher Smyth died Jan 1874 aged 74 years. And for the soul of Margaret Smyth died June 1869 aged 60 years. The souls of William and James Smyth and the soul of Mrs Lane. Erected by Francis Smyth Derlangan in memory of his wife and parents.

STANLEY. Erected by John Stanley in memory of his father……Stanley who….. the 15th 1785 aged 68 years. Also his brother William Stanley departed May….. 45 years…..Thomas Stanley who departed April 9th 1798 aged 19 years and 7 of his children who are interred here. John Stanley died July 4th 1823 aged ….. (This headstone was recorded by Noel E French in the 1980s who noted then that it was extremely worn and difficult to read. I give here his transcription because this stone is now almost completely illegible).

STANLEY. Here lyeth ye body of Mr John Stanley who departed this life ye 3rd day of July 1733 aged 60 years

STANLEY. Lord have mercy on the soul of Kate Stanley Ballardin who died 19th June 1918 and also her father and mother. Her sister Mary. Her brothers Thomas, Owen, Michael and William and her nephew Thomas Stanley.

SULLIVAN. In memory of Michael Sullivan (Rathmore) died 5th March 1887. His wife Mary died 25th March 1917. His sons Patrick and John. Also Michael died 4th March 1948. Daughters Mary, Catherine, Rose and Anne RIP. Erected by E Reilly

SURMAN. Pray for the soul of Mrs Mary Surman died 17th July 1964 aged 61 years. RIP. Erected by her husband and family.

TUITE. Erected by Thomas Tuite in memory of his father E. Tuite who departed Nov the 11th 1824 aged 74 years. His mother who departed this life December the 18 1832 aged 94 years.

TUYTH. Pray for the soul of Olive Tuyth who departed this life Nov 16 1770 aged 47 years.

WALSH. Erected by Mary A. Walsh in memory of her beloved husband James who died 25th Jan 1919 aged 62 years. Also his father and Mother Catherine and Thomas Walsh and of his brother John.

WARD. Erected by James Ward Athboy in memory of his father John Ward who departed this life April 28th 1776 aged 78 years. Also his wife Catherine Ward alias McNamara who died May 24th 1776 aged 76 years. Mary Ward who died March the 7th 1784 aged 19 years. Also James Ward Junr who departed this life March the 19th 1935 aged 56 years. May they rest in peace.

WARD. Of your charity pray for the repose of the souls of Michael Ward Athboy who died 23rd Dec 1897 aged 58 years and of John Ward who died 16th June 1907 aged 81 years.

WARD. This stone was erected by Thomas Ward in memory of his wife Mary Ward who died Decr 24th 1784 aged 39 years.