Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on undulating pasture, with poorly drained land immediately to S and higher well drained land to N and E. St John's Well (DU007-002----) lies 60m to S. Grallagh (An Ghreallach/miry place) graveyard consists of a sub-rectangular shaped area (dims. c. 80m N-S x 70m E-W) partially enclosed by a late 19th/20th century limestone wall at E, with modern concrete wall partially at S and elsewhere by a low bank and external fosse which forms townland boundary at S with Cottrelstown.
The graveyard is entered through a gateway in the centre of the E wall with stepped stile immediately to N. A concrete pathway runs around the perimeter of the graveyard as shown on the Cassini ed. OSi 6-inch map. A second wider gateway is visible at N end of the E wall. Grallagh graveyard appears to have originally been a smaller circular-shaped burial ground enclosed by a bank and external fosse that was extended to the N forming the present large sub-rectangular shaped graveyard (H. A. Wheeler Report 15/04/1975, SMR File).
Traces of the original circular shaped graveyard are visible in the graveyard as a curving shallow ditch to W. The curving boundary of the ditch at S represents the original enclosing feature of the graveyard. It is possible that the curving boundary ditch represents the remains of an early Christian ecclesiastical enclosure (DU007-001005-) associated with a monastery (DU007-001006-) founded by St Maccallin. The curving S boundary of the graveyard marks the boundary with Cottrelstown townland. The interior rises high above the surrounding ground where the church ruins stands and drops down steeply to the S. Graveyard contains headstones dating from 18th century to present day as the graveyard is still in use. The earliest memorial belongs to Thomas Mangan who died in 1768. Modern burial plots are concentrated in the W quadrant of the graveyard (Fingal Historic Graveyards Project). Grallagh church ruins (DU007-001-) are visible on high ground in S quadrant with St Michael's Well (St Patrick's Well) (DU007-001002-) 20m to S adjacent to the boundary of the graveyard. The interior of the graveyard rises above the surrounding ground where the church ruins stands and drops down steeply to the S. Outside the graveyard entrance immediately to the S and lying on the side of the public road there is a water eroded stone known locally as 'St Michael's Stone' (DU007-001003-).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Updated by: Christine Baker

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 4 April 2023

References

Egan, M. 1992, Memorials of the Dead: Dublin City and County, Volume 5.

Fingal Historic Graveyards Project 2008, Vols. 1 and 2 http://www.fingal.ie/planning-and-buildings/heritage-in-fingal/heritage-and-communities/historic-graveyards/