Carrickbrennan Churchyard
Encyclopedia
Carrickbrennan Churchyard located on Carrickbrennan Road, Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland is a graveyard that can still be seen today, but is no longer in use. It is notable as the burial place of many people who perished in local maritime disasters. The graveyard stands beside the grounds of Monkstown Park, former estate of Lord Ranelagh and latterly the historian Charles Haliday
, now used as rugby pitches by CBC Monkstown Park.
, a 6th century Bishop from Holmpatrick, Skerries. The monks were Cistercian and the monastery was part of the chapter of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin
. The building fell to ruin and was replaced in 1668 by a church built by Edward Corker. Today this church lies in ruins, but in the 19th century the building was modified somewhat for a watchman's house to deter body snatchers.
The nearby Monkstown Castle was also built by the Cistercian monks in the 13th–14th century. The castle was later granted to Sir John Travers for his services to the Crown by King Henry VIII
around the middle of the 16th century. Travers died 16 May 1562 and is buried here. The castle was later inherited by Mary Travers' nephew, Henry Cheevers, upon her death in 1601. Henry Cheevers died in 1640 and is also buried in the churchyard.
The churchyard was closed in 1874 due to fears of a cholera
outbreak, but there were further burials as late as the 1950s.
In the 1980s the Carrickbrennan Graveyard Restoration Project restored the site by resetting headstones, fixing boundary walls, removing dangerous trees and restoring old ironwork. New trees were added including a Bhutan pine and a dawn redwood planted by Denis O'Connor Don, the president of the Dún Laoghaire Historical Society at the time. The site is now in the care of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
.
with a similar memorial to the one found here.
On 9 February 1861 the Ajax, a coastguard vessel with its crew of Captain John McNeil Boyd and 5 other members, perished during a bad storm while attempting to rescue the crew of the Neptune, a brigantine
that had hit the rocks of the east pier in Dún Laoghaire
. The crew of the coastguard vessel were swept overboard by a large wave. All the bodies were recovered promptly except for Captain Boyd, found two weeks later. The 5 crew members who died are interred in the Carrickbrennan graveyard, which also has a memorial to Captain Boyd and the crew. The actual resting place of Captain Boyd is in the churchyard of St. Patrick's Cathedral where there is a monument as a memorial. The members of the Royal St. George Yacht Club
also erected an obelisk monument to Captain Boyd on the east pier of Dún Laoghaire harbour.
Joseph Holt (1756-1826
was a United Irish general and leader of a large guerrilla force which fought against British troops in County Wicklow from June–October 1798 part of the 1798 rebellion. He was exiled to Australia in 1799 and returned to Ireland in 1814. He died in Kingstown
on 16 May 1826 and is buried here.
Charles Haliday (1789–1866)
was an Irish historian and antiquary who made significant contributions to the study of the history of Dublin, being particularly interested in the Scandinavian antiquities of the city. He died on 14 September 1866 and is buried here.
Sir William Betham (1779–1853)
was the Ulster King of Arms from 1820 until his death in 1853. He had previously served as the Deputy Ulster from 1807 to 1820. He died on 26 October 1853 and is buried here with a cast iron monument.
Charles Haliday
Charles Haliday was an Irish historian and antiquary who made significant contributions to the study of the history of Dublin, being particularly interested in the Scandinavian antiquities of the city. He was born in Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary in 1789...
, now used as rugby pitches by CBC Monkstown Park.
History
There used to be a medieval monastery at this site dedicated to St. MochonnaMochonna
Saint Mochonna , also known as Saint Conan, was the bishop of the Isle of Man and an Irish missionary.Mochonna is not to be confused with St. Conindrius, who is said to have been a disciple of St. Patrick, and to have lived to be a very advanced age Saint Mochonna (7th century – January, 684), also...
, a 6th century Bishop from Holmpatrick, Skerries. The monks were Cistercian and the monastery was part of the chapter of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin
St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin
St. Mary's Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey located near Abbey Street in Dublin, Ireland. Its territory stretched from the district known as Oxmanstown down along the river Liffey until it met the sea. It also owned large estates in other parts of Ireland...
. The building fell to ruin and was replaced in 1668 by a church built by Edward Corker. Today this church lies in ruins, but in the 19th century the building was modified somewhat for a watchman's house to deter body snatchers.
The nearby Monkstown Castle was also built by the Cistercian monks in the 13th–14th century. The castle was later granted to Sir John Travers for his services to the Crown by King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
around the middle of the 16th century. Travers died 16 May 1562 and is buried here. The castle was later inherited by Mary Travers' nephew, Henry Cheevers, upon her death in 1601. Henry Cheevers died in 1640 and is also buried in the churchyard.
The churchyard was closed in 1874 due to fears of a cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
outbreak, but there were further burials as late as the 1950s.
In the 1980s the Carrickbrennan Graveyard Restoration Project restored the site by resetting headstones, fixing boundary walls, removing dangerous trees and restoring old ironwork. New trees were added including a Bhutan pine and a dawn redwood planted by Denis O'Connor Don, the president of the Dún Laoghaire Historical Society at the time. The site is now in the care of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the local authority for the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. It serves a population of...
.
Notable burials
One of the most notable burials here is that from 19 November 1807 where many of the 265 people who died on the Rochdale in the sinking of the Rochdale and the Prince of Wales are interred in the graveyard. It is noted that the 265 who died consisted of 1 major, 2 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 8 sergeants, 9 corporals, 173 rank and file, 42 women and 29 children. There is a memorial stone near the entrance to the graveyard for the captain of the Rochdale, Major Charles Gormocan, and a mound with a tombstone to the soldiers of the 97th regiment. On the same night 120 soldiers on board the Prince of Wales packet were drowned. They are interred in Merrion CemeteryMerrion Cemetery, Bellevue
Merrion Cemetery, Bellevue is a cemetery located off the Merrion Road in County Dublin. It is located adjacent to the hotel Tara Towers, which is between Booterstown and Merrion...
with a similar memorial to the one found here.
On 9 February 1861 the Ajax, a coastguard vessel with its crew of Captain John McNeil Boyd and 5 other members, perished during a bad storm while attempting to rescue the crew of the Neptune, a brigantine
Brigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
that had hit the rocks of the east pier in Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
. The crew of the coastguard vessel were swept overboard by a large wave. All the bodies were recovered promptly except for Captain Boyd, found two weeks later. The 5 crew members who died are interred in the Carrickbrennan graveyard, which also has a memorial to Captain Boyd and the crew. The actual resting place of Captain Boyd is in the churchyard of St. Patrick's Cathedral where there is a monument as a memorial. The members of the Royal St. George Yacht Club
Royal St. George Yacht Club
Located in Dún Laoghaire, The Royal St. George Yacht Club was founded in 1838 and remains one of Ireland's premier clubs.It is housed in a beautiful Victorian style clubhouse, the first part of which was built in 1843, and has been extended and modified regularly to meet the needs of the sailing...
also erected an obelisk monument to Captain Boyd on the east pier of Dún Laoghaire harbour.
Joseph Holt (1756-1826
Joseph Holt (rebel)
Joseph Holt was a United Irish general and leader of a large guerrilla force which fought against British troops in County Wicklow from June–October 1798. He was exiled to Australia in 1799 where he worked as a farm manager and eventually returned to Ireland in 1814.-Background:Holt was one of six...
was a United Irish general and leader of a large guerrilla force which fought against British troops in County Wicklow from June–October 1798 part of the 1798 rebellion. He was exiled to Australia in 1799 and returned to Ireland in 1814. He died in Kingstown
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
on 16 May 1826 and is buried here.
Charles Haliday (1789–1866)
Charles Haliday
Charles Haliday was an Irish historian and antiquary who made significant contributions to the study of the history of Dublin, being particularly interested in the Scandinavian antiquities of the city. He was born in Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary in 1789...
was an Irish historian and antiquary who made significant contributions to the study of the history of Dublin, being particularly interested in the Scandinavian antiquities of the city. He died on 14 September 1866 and is buried here.
Sir William Betham (1779–1853)
William Betham
Sir William Betham was an English herald and antiquarian, the Ulster King of Arms from 1820 until his death in 1853. He had previously served as the Deputy Ulster from 1807 to 1820.-Life:...
was the Ulster King of Arms from 1820 until his death in 1853. He had previously served as the Deputy Ulster from 1807 to 1820. He died on 26 October 1853 and is buried here with a cast iron monument.
See also
- Sinking of the Rochdale and the Prince of Wales