Monday, January 29, 2018

Aughagower Cemetery

The tiny village of Aughagower is located just a little over 4 km from Teevinish.  In the midst of a few homes and a pub lies the remains of a medivial monestary, once a major stop on the pilgrimage route from Ballentubber to Croagh Patrick.

The monestary of , which was active into the 13th century, was according to legend founded by Saint Patrick who placed Saint Senach in charge. Remains of the monestary include: a round stone tower which was built between 973 and 1013; Dabhach Phadraig, a circular bath surrounded by a stone wall where pilgrims may have bathed their feet; the remnants of a chapel; and many medivial tombstones.

 Prior to the famine Aghagower was the center of a Aghagower parish, the home of over 12,000 people.  In 1996 there were only 796 individuals listed in the parish.

Teevinish East and West were part of the parish of Aghagower.  Judy Burke and John Walsh were married in the parish in 1865. (1)  It seems likely that she has ancestors buried in the graveyard, however like most graveyards in Ireland, stones that early, if they ever existed are seldom legible.  No Burkes early, enough in time, appear in the lists of burials found online.



(1) , Islandeady Civil Register Marriages, Vol 4 page 732 -John Walsh (aged 27) of Derrycoosh, farmer, son of Patt Walsh, married judy Bourke (aged 17) of Theevinish, daughter of ? witness: James McDonnell and Judy McDonnell.




Aughagower Graveyard  includes maps
Aughagower Cemetery - Find A Grave
Aughagower A Parish (Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837) - Library of Ireland
Aughagower - Wikipedia
Aughagower Cemetery - Drop box