Survey Data
Reg No
15318001
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Original Use
Graveyard/cemetery
In Use As
Graveyard/cemetery
Date
1880 - 1900
Coordinates
233809, 244285
Date Recorded
27/09/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Graveyard on rectilinear plan, consecrated c.1890, having a variety of twentieth-century grave markers. Bounded by random rubble stone wall to the northeast with rendered gateway on a crescent plan and wrought-iron gates. Tree lined approach from the southeast. Roman Catholic church to south east.
Appraisal
St. Mary's cemetery is of high social significance to the local community. It contains a variety of gravestones, both upright and recumbent, mainly dating from the twentieth century, some of these of a very high standard, and provides an interesting insight into changing gravestone design trends over time. There are some notable examples of cut stone Celtic high cross-type markers, a native style based on the Celtic Revival/Hiberno-Romanesque tradition. This graveyard represents a feature of some tranquility to the north end of Castletown Geoghegan and is a local landmark. The regimented rows of graves reflect the modern cemetery pattern and are in contrast to the haphazard layout of grave markers found in the town's older abbey graveyard to the south (15318011). The good quality wrought-iron gates complete the setting.