Graveyards

Graveyards are an important feature of the historic landscape and frequently provide clues to understanding our past. Our graveyards contain the remains of our ancestors but they also contain many significant structures, historical and archaeological. Because of the undisturbed nature of these sites, graveyards can be an oasis for a rich variety of plants and animals.

Advice Available

All work in graveyards must be carefully planned. Care must be taken not to disturb any archaeological remains, nor to damage memorials and gravemarkers through incorrect cleaning or chipping from mechanical mowers/strimmers.  The Heritage Office would be pleased to discuss any works planned for caring for your graveyard and to outline the help that may be available.

Recommended Reading

There are a number of publications available on the correct care and maintenace of historic graveyards, the most recent being the "Guidance for the Care, Conservation & Recording of Historic Graveyards", developed by the Waterford County Heritage Office and published by the Heritage Council.  These are available to download from the Downloads section of this website.

For international information, we suggest the Conservation of Historic Graveyards, Guide for Practitioners Historic Scotland, 2001, available through the library service or from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

County Longford Graveyards Survey

During 2005 an extensive survey of all graveyards with upstanding remains were carried out by Jimmy Lennon in conjunction with the County Longford Heritage Office. The report includes a detailed survey of the 96 graveyards found throughout the county. A copy of the summary document which indicates whether there is a recorded monument or a protected structure in the grounds is available here.

Individual graveyard reports are available in PDF format - simply click on the graveyard name below. (Note: document sizes vary from 200 to 980 kb).

The Heritage Office has an ongoing programme where detailed inventories of some individual graveyards have been commissioned, recording each monument and gravemarker. Please visit the Projects section of this website to view these when they become available.

Abbeylara

Ardagh

Ballymacormack & Templemichael

Carrickedmond & Abbeyshrule

Cashel

Clonbroney

Clonguish

Colmcille

Dromard

Drumlish & Ballinamuck

Forgney

Granard

Kilcommock

Killashee

Killoe

Legan

Mostrim

Mullinalaghta

Rathcline

Shrule

Streete