Aug
02
2023
Rusting iron inside a cementitious headstone is causing the monument to crack, Bruree, Co. Limerick
This graveyard is located in the townland of Ballynoe, in the parish of Bruree and in the barony of Connello Upper. It stands on high ground, overlooking the Maigue River and the village of Bruree lies to the north and east.
The graveyard surrounds the Church of Ireland church. It is dedicated to St. Munchin who is the patron saint of Bruree, (feast day 2nd January). It is a Board Of First Fruits Church which was built in 1812, and possibly on the site of a medieval church which had also been dedicated to St. Munchin.
The church is built of limestone and is a nave with a square-plan tower to its western end, supporting a spire topped with a ball-shaped finial. The roof is slated and the walls are rendered. The building is no longer in use and the interior is gutted.
In the centre of the graveyard, south of the church are the ivy-clad ruins of Bruree Castle, also known as Ballynoe Castle. It is a tower house with only the north side of the building surviving. It was built by the De Laceys, a Norman family. It was owned by the Bishop of Limerick and possibly used as a vicarage in the 15th century. It was destroyed by the Cromwellian army in 1649. The ruin is currently fenced off for safety reasons and conservation work is due to commence. The graveyard is entered on the northside via double-leaf metal gates. The graveyard measures 50m N-S x 65m E-W.
A total of 150 memorials have been recorded, both Catholic and Protestant burials. Of this number six memorials date to the 18th century. The earliest date recorded in the survey is on the memorial which commemorates the death of Luke Shanahan who died in 1774, (memorial no. 0050).
Surnames include Potter, Maher, Hedderman, Hartigan, Russell, Carroll, Lyons, Featherstone, Hogg, Browning, Ledger-King, Armstrong, Bourke, Fenton and Cleary.
Interesting facts
President DeValeras' grandparents lived in Bruree and Dev lived with them when he was a child. His grandmother’s name was Elizabeth Coll. His cousin, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Meagher (nee Coll) is buried in the graveyard, (memorial no. 0025 Historic Graves.ie).
18th Century Memorials in Bruree
0005 James Hassett 1791
0020 James Shea 1786
0048 Honora Collopy (neeKelly) 1786
0050 Luke Shanahan 1774
0059 Thomas Cussin 1780
0075 John Cahill 1793
This post was researched and written as part of a grassroots heritage tourism project (www.incultum.eu) in collaboration with Ballyhoura Development CLG (https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/), Cork Co. Council (https://www.corkcoco.ie/en) and Limerick Co. Council (https://www.limerick.ie/council). The stories were initially gathered during a community survey of the graveyard. They form part of the Historic Graves Project Destination for Ballyhoura (https://historicgraves.com/destination/ballyhoura).
