Drummully Churchyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A graveyard with a ruined church set at the crest of a steep hill and enclosed by a thick rubble stone wall. It is reached from the road by a long tree-lined path and accessed by a wrought-iron gate supported on heavy square-in-section gate piers. To its right a number of projecting stones form a stile.

The graveyard contains of a number of 18th and 19thC memorials. Of particular note is the Graham memorial which comprises a large Celtic cross carved with foliage and Celtic knotwork, enclosed by wrought iron railings. It is supported on a stone plinth on which is inscribed ‘Erected / by / James and Jason Graham / of Annaghmore and Edercole / In loving memory of / their / father mother and sister / James Graham died 16th March 1860, aged 64 yrs / Ellen Graham died 4th February 1882, aged 74 yrs / Susanna Graham died 12th July 1891, aged 38 yrs / Pray for the soul of / Jason Graham J.P. / who died 10th July 1901 aged 56 years, also Elizabeth Coulson, sister / who died 8th July 1911, aged 69 years / R.I.P.’ The cross bears the makers mark of J. McCullough / Marble Works / Armagh.

Historical information

This graveyard is explicitly captioned on the 1834 OS 6" map, along with a rectangular building, undoubtedly a church. The 1835 Ordnance Survey Memoir notes that it was indeed a church, but very ruinous. It may have preceded the church in Drumcrin townland. (HB12-02-082). Of the graveyard, it notes: “[It is] much used by all parties, but chiefly by the Roman Catholics, [and] is very decently kept and well enclosed. There are no remarkable inscriptions on any of the tombstones, of which there are a great number. The oldest that I observed was “Pray for ye soul of Bryan McDonal who dyed ye 4 of January 1625 aged 71 years”. The general date of the old ones varied between 1730 and 1743. This building is called by many of the people a monastery, and is said to have been an appendage to Galloon Friary”.

Primary sources:
1. OS 6" map 1st edition (1834), Co Fermanagh sheet 43 (PRONI OS 6/4/43/1).
2. Ordnance Survey Memoirs, Drummully Parish, Co Fermanagh (1835).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A pleasant and peaceful hilltop graveyard, accessed from the road by a long tree-lined path. It is visible from the road beneath and forms an interesting landscape feature.