Killinane Graveyard Entrance, July 2011
Killinane Graveyard, Maher Graves, July 2011
Between Paulstown, Kilkenny and Old Leighlin/Leighlinbridge, Carlow on Route 724 is an old cemetery, Killinane, that has several Maher graves in it. According to the 1844-45 Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland, Killinane was in the barony of West Idrone. This barony included “part of the parishes of Cloydagh, Killinane, and Wells; and the whole of the parishes of Old Leighlin and Tullowcrine. Its only town is part of Leighlin-Bridge; and its chief villages are Royal Oak and Old Leighlin.” In 1841 the population was 8,435 and it was in the Poor Law Union of Carlow. (pg. 309)
This was an unexpected find as we were driving past, having gone back first to look at and photograph Wells Cemetery, which appeared to be Protestant. Unfortunately I was unaware of the standing stone that was apparently nearby, another of the many reasons to return to Ireland whenever possible.
Places mentioned on the Maher stones in Killinane Graveyard include: Closutton, Clorusk, Bagenalstown, and Royal Oak in County Carlow and Moanmore, in County Kilkenny. I have kept the spellings as they appeared on the stones. There is a habit in Ireland of people darkening white marble stones with paint or other substances, then sanding down the surface to reveal recessed black lettering. While this cannot be good for the stones, it is also unfortunate for others to come upon, as we did here (#7), before someone had returned to finish the job. Thankfully, I was able to make out the inscription. On two graves were also included the names of the stonecutters and their locations.
John Hayes’ lists of surnames included in Griffiths Valuations, index abstracts, include fifteen Mahers in Killinane. I believe that relatives of at least some of those listed will be found to match up with these graves. See Ask About Ireland/Griffiths Valuations for further details. Since so many records were lost and destroyed, Griffiths tabulation of leaseholders and their landlords after the Great Famine is very helpful in trying to locate families. This, in combination with microfilms of baptism and marriage records from Family Search, can keep one quite busy and help in piecing various parts of puzzles together. I recommend James R. Reilly’s article that explains Griffith’s Valuations if this is the first time you’ve heard of them.
Transcriptions of Maher Graves in Killinane Graveyard, July 2011
1. Sacred Heart of Jesus Have Mercy On the Soul of Jeremiah Maher, Closutton, Who Died Nov. 12th, 1915, Age 77 Yrs. Also His Sister, Maria Maher Who Died Sep. 28th, 1914, Aged 73 Yrs. [Phelan R. I. P. Royal Oak]
2. Erected by Thomas Maher of Clowsutton in memory of his beloved wife Anne Maher alias Walsh who depd. this life April 18th 1861, aged 50 years. Also one of his children who died young. Also the memory of Thomas Maher above mentioned died May 2nd, 1866, aged 66 years.
3. Erected by Jeremiah Maher of Clorusk in memory of his beloved father John Maher who died July 29, 1876 aged 72 yrs. also his mother Mary Maher als. Ryan who died June 9, [1873] aged 58 yrs. also his brother John who died July 5th 1865 aged 20 yrs. also his sister Mary who died Dec. 11, 1860 Aged 27 yrs. also two brothers and one sister died young. Also The Above Named Jeremiah Maher Died Nov. 4, 1905 Aged 61 Yrs. And His Wife Catherine Maher Died Nov. 29, 1912 Aged 63 Yrs. Also Their Son Thomas James Died May 23, 1898 Aged 12 Yrs. And Three Children Died Young. And Their Son John Died July 17th, 1945 Aged 60 Yrs. Also His Wife Annie Maher, Nee Kavanagh, Died Oct. 31st, 1972, Aged 87 Yrs. And Their Grandson John Maher Nolan Who Died In Infancy Also Their Daughter Mary O’Keefe Who Died 14th Jan. 1988 Aged 71 Yrs. Requiscant In Pace. [On the back:] When a few short years of toil are past We reach that happy Shore When divided friends at last Meet to part no more.
4. Of Your Charity Pray For The Soul of Michael Maher, Main Street, Bagnalstown, Who Died July 23rd 1909 Aged 48 Years Also His Wife Catherine Maher Nee Mulligan Who Died March 28th 1960 Aged 87 Years R. I. P.
5. Of Your Charity Pray For The Repose Of The Soul of Philip Maher, Closutton Who Died [18th] Jan. 1870. Aged 55 Years Also Their Grandchild Marianne Maher Who Died Young. Also Jeremiah Died 23rd March 1907 Aged 59 Years. Also Edward Died 10th May 1909 Aged 59 Years. Also Annie Maher Died 29th Oct. 1917 Aged 63 Years. Also Kate Maher Died 8th Nov. 1919 Aged 52 Years. Also Elizabeth McDonnell Daughter Of Above Edward Maher Died [7th] Jan. 1963 And Her Children May & Frances Who Died Young R. I. P. [Hughes Carlow]
6. Erected By Patrick Maher Royal Oak In Memory Of His Father John Maher Who Died Dec. 4th 1915 Aged 78 Years and his sister Bridget Sister M. Peter Who Died Jan. 20th 1916 Aged 58 yrs. Also his brother John who died Nov. 12th 1918 Aged 26 yrs. And his mother Mary died Jan. 23rd 1927 aged 82 yrs. Also his brother Michael died in Waco, Texas, U.S.A. Sept. 19th 1941 aged 56 yrs. And the above Patrick died April 6th 1950 aged 67 yrs.
7. In Loving Memory Of Thomas Maher, Moanmore, Died 18th Apr. 1872, His Wife Elizabeth Died 10th June 1897, His Two Daughters, Bridget and Elizabeth Died Young, His Son Jeremiah Died 12th Apr. 1959, His Wife Kathleen Died 17th Mar. 1942
Patrick Maher Stone, Killinane Graveyard, July 2011
Killinane Church Ruin at Cemetery, July 2011
Darkened Thomas Maher Stone, Killinane, July 2011
References:
Reilly, James R., CGRS, Is There More in Griffith’s Valuations Than Just Names?, pdf online of entire article can be downloaded from this link: http://www.deliapublications.com/More2Griffith.htm or from a direct keywork search.
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland: Adapted to the New Poor-Law, Franchise, Municipal and Ecclesiastical Arrangments, and Compiled With A Special Reference to the Lines of Railroad and Canal Communication, As Existing in 1844-45, Volume II. D-M, Dublin, London, and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton and Co., 1846. (http://books.google.com)
©2011 Sinéad Ní Mheachair (Janet Maher)
All Rights Reserved
Maher Matters 
A most interesting and oh so readable post !
I am intrigued by the following: ”There is a habit in Ireland of people darkening white marble stones with paint or other substances, then sanding down the surface to reveal recessed black lettering. While this cannot be good for the stones, it is also unfortunate for others to come upon, as we did here (#7), before someone has returned to finish the job” I do not see that in picture #7 or am I looking at the wrong picture? Is this a white marble stone?
Hi Angela, Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. I added a photo of the tombstone at the bottom so you can see how awful it’s been treated. In the second photo it appears as the dark spot near the center. Janet
One of the stones you quote begins, “Of your charity pray for ..” Just recently I saw a similar construction for the first time on a stone in St. Bernard’s, New Haven (where we are copying all stones with Irish place names), which reads, “In your charity pray for the soul of Mary Cusack of Baiiieboro, Co. Cavan. She died in New Haven Jan. 24, 1872, aged 62.” The stone was lying flat and partially covered and apparently missed by Hale transcribers in 1934.
Paul Keroack
Hi Paul, That’s a wonderful find! Nice that you saw a similarity in language (the first time I’ve seen that phrase), as traditions seamlessly transplanted to America when the early immigrants found small towns and hamlets similar in feel to the places they left in Ireland. That the Hale transcriptions missed people is one aspect, but that it is also not possible to really get a sense from them how the stones were laid out was another problem, I felt. That’s why I’ve done my Naugatuck transcriptions more thoroughly, with maps and in order by sections. The Hale transcriptions were helpful at first (and invaluable as an entire resource), but I think what we are doing now, documenting the graves differently and more thoroughly, will make actual links between New Haven County and the right places in Ireland. Certainly someone now can find Mary Cusack’s family in Cavan! Your work in St. Bernard’s is so important!
Ah Thank you! I did not see that picture when I first looked. That is the technique used to colour the letters for sure -I had never realized that it was then sanded down – I thought it simply wiped off the flat surface. Our gravestone is black marble and the lettering is in gold and that is what they do with that – definitely no sanding. Great pictures – and a very well kept graveyard!
Hi Angela, Yes, I assumed that too, that folks chose some fairly benign substance that simply stayed in the recesses, as yours must, but my husband noticed the swirls left in another stone from a sanding tool. I shudder to think of someone doing that to a tombstone, particularly a fragile old one. When I’m tending the ones I find in Connecticut I feel as if I’m an archaeologist – so careful in removing leaves and dirt, trying not to forget to bring my gardening tools. I feel there’s something sacred about it. Some finds have brought me to tears.
Another headstone at Killinan Graveyard, Co. Tipperary, which was very difficult to read, and could barely be deciphered.
————0————
Erected by Winifred Maher of Killinan in memory of her husband Thomas Maher who died 19th Nov 1917.
His father Cornelius who died 23rd March 1898 aged 71.
His mother Johanna Maher who died April 19th 1911 aged 81 yrs.
His brother Andrew Maher died 15th March 1897 aged 26 yrs.
And Matthew died 18th Sep 1908 aged 51 yrs.
Another Maher Gravestone — Killinan Graveyard, Co. Tipperary
(Winifred Maher mentioned above is the daughter of Laurence & Ellen Maher of Forgestown here, but their farm was actually across the road in in Knockstowry/Coolkip).
ERECTED
BY
DANIEL MAHER,
in memory of his beloved mother,
ELLEN MAHER, of Forgestown,
who died Dec 19th 1894, aged 53 years.
Also in memory of his father,
LAURENCE MAHER,
who died August 3rd 1895, aged 68 years.
Also his sister, BRIDGET MAHER,
who died May 25th 1899, aged 18 years.
Also his sister, MARGARET SHANAHAN,
died 20th Dec 1899, aged 31.
Also JAMES MAHER, who died 18th Sept 1937, aged 73 years.
WILLIAM MAHER,
died 16th January 1952, aged 81 years.
MRS MARY ANN MAHER, Forgestown,
died 1st April 1955.
LAURENCE MAHER, Ballinhow,
died 19th June 1960.
His wife, MARY, died 13th March 1974.
Their son, LAURENCE, died 17th July 1969.
R.I.P
(There are a few age discrepancies)
Sorry, I got mixed with the cemeteries for the above two Maher’s. There are buried in Killinan cemetery near Thurles, Co. Tipperary. It is spelt KILLINAN.
I want to know more, was there a feud or something or was it just coming to America where Meagher became Maher. My Grandfather was Thomas F. Maher, Philadelphia, how did he descend?
Wish I had the answer. I suspect the name was used in many families in honor of the Thomas Francis Meagher, himself. The changing of so many original spellings leave lots of questions. I have found that even in America an immigrant’s surname was spelled one way early on, then changed to the use of another form in later generations (Ph to W). The English way of spelling Maher occurred early in Ireland, I have found in researching Irish records, sometimes interchangeable in a family. The more we learn, the more questions we inevitably have, it seems. Thanks for writing, Stephen. – Janet
Brian, Thank you very much for adding theses transcriptions and the additional commentary, I noticed you spelled the place “Killinan.” Is that the correct spelling and should I correct mine? I will be back again this summer. Would love to talk with you if you live there and are interested in discussing the Mahers of this area. Always interested in learning more.
Janet
This is a great find. I’m a decendant of John Maher in no.6. He was my great grandfather. As a boy, his family were evicted, and he went to live with relatives. As a young man, he went to New Zealand and found gold 1863. He returned to Ireland and bought a house and land in Royal Oak. His eldest daughter married a local farmer. Her daughter was my mother. My cousins are in Ireland, England, Australia and the USA. While I was trying to find directions for cousins visiting this summer, I discovered your wonderful website. Thank you.
Mary, that’s great. So good to see connections occur wherever possible. Have you written up your story? My gg grandfather was a Patrick and we had John was a name in our family too. Wishing you well, Janet
I’m writing up the story, for one of the younger US cousins. John Maher is her great great great grandfather. With her mother and grandmother ( my first cousin) she’ll be visiting Ireland this summer. If you give me an address, I’ll email it to you, when it’s finished.