St Cartha's (Old) Church & Graveyard, Kilcar, Co Donegal
Select photograph for a full view through the arched doorway, down to Kilcar & the new St Cartha's Church
Photograph by Paddy McBrearty
This page was compiled by Lindel and forms part of the Donegal Genealogy Resources website
You may link to this page but not copy it
If you have a connection to any of the families and would like to have your email address linked to them, please feel free to Contact Me
Notes:
This church and graveyard lay on the brow of a hill, overlooking the village of Kilcar below
Further up the hill, close to the church, are three holy wells, dedicated to -
St Carthach, the Blessed Virgin, and St Conall
The location of the church is a very early ecclesiastical site, with the year 640 given as the establishment of the first St Cartha's
St Cartha's was confiscated in 1610 (recorded as being in ruins in 1622)
It was not until abt 1756 that the Catholic population of the area again had a place to worship
The current church on this site continued to be used until the building of another church in the village, about 1828
For more information and photographs, I recommend
Photographs and transcription of the inscriptions by Lindel, 2010
Additional photographs and support provided by Paddy McBrearty, Author of Bridging the Ages
In most cases, enlargements of individual graveslabs are available, if needed
Also see
St Cartha's (Old) Church & Graveyard Photographs
Inscriptions
Sacred to the Memory of
The Reverend Hill Benson AM
Rector of Kilcar
And
Many years Incumbent of the
Parishes of Blessington & Rathmore
In the Archdiocese
of Dublin
He departed this life 21 Mar 1837
Aged 89 years
This stone is placed over his
Mortal remains in token of
The filial affection of his
?nly Son
Revd GS Benson
Notes:
A short obituary appears for him in the
Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle, Vol 8, 1837
21 Mar At Kilcar Glebe, Co Donegal, aged 88, the Rev Hill Benson
He was married to Catherine Griffin of Dublin, with whom he had 6 sons and 4 daughters
His only son to marry was Rev George Simpson Benson (1787 - 1863)
Here lyeth the body of
Patrick Birn
Who departed this life 14 Jan 1753?
Aged 54 years
This stone was erected by
Archibald Brown
For his Son
Alexander Brown
Who Departed this life 6 Apr 1770
(and was interrd here the 15th)
Aged 30 years
Also his Son
Francis Brown
Who departed this life 6 Jun 1764
Aged 23 years
Likewise the body of
Francis Brown Jun
Who died 12 Oct 181?
Aged 19 years
Note:
Archibald also erected a tomb for his parents
Mary Brown nee Askin d 1742
George Brown d 1758
See St Catherine's Church of Ireland Graveyard, Killybegs
Here lieth the body of
Michael Byrne
Who departed this life
?1 Dec 1856
Aged 36 (56?) years
Patrick Byrne
Departed this life ?th Mar 1842
Aged 77? years
Connell Birn
Died 8 Jan 1856 aged 50 years
Pat Birn
Died 7 Jun 1856 Aged 19 years
Susan Byrne
Died 12 Dec 1828 Aged 22 years
D? Byrne
Died 15 Oct 1841 Aged 26 years
This stone was erected by his Son
John Byrne
? of the ?
Brine Byrne
Who departed this life 8 Oct 1851
Aged 11? years
Also his beloved Wife
Peggy Byrne
Who departed this life 1 Dec 1851
Aged 22 years
Also
Peggy Byrne
The Wife of Patrick Byrne
Who departed this life 22 Dec 1857
Aged 80 years
Requiscant in Pace
Amen
Here lieth the body of
James Cambell
Who departed this life 11 Feb 1813
Aged 32 years
Here lieth the body of
Connel Cammil
Who departed this life 11 Feb 1813
Aged 27 years
INRI
Memnto Mori
Here lieth the body of
Patrick Campbell
Who departed this life 18 Jun 1828
Aged 76 years
Requiescant in Pace
Here lieth the body of
Owen Cannen
Who died 4 Apr 1819
Aged 84 years
Requiscant in Pace
?coner Cannen
Died ? Mar 1803
Aged 36 years
Under this tomb lieth the
Revd James Carr
Parish Priest Kilcar
Aged 93 years
Departed this life 18 Mar 1835
Requiscant in Pace
(Bullaun stone on grave)
INRI
Memnto Mori
Here lieth the body of
Michael Carr
Who departed this life 26 Jun 1825
Aged ? years
Also his Wife
Bridget Carr alias Maginley
Who departed this life 16 Aug 1832
Aged ?1 years
Requiescat in Pace
Here lieth the body of
Thomas? Carskadden
Who departed this life ? Mar 180?
Aged ? years
Also the body of
Cathrine? Carskadden
Who departed this life 26 Apr 1805
Aged 64 years
Here lieth the body of
Francis Cunningham
Who departed this life 2 Jul 1805
Aged 72 years
By Michael Cunningham
His Son
Sacred to the Memory of
? Doherty
Who departed this life 12? Nov 18?5?
Aged 69? years
Also
His beloved Wife
Brigid Doherty
Who departed this life ? Feb 18?5
Aged ? years
Here lieth the body of
John Doogan
Who departed this life
7 Jun 1824
Aged 67 years
Also the body of
.......................
Aged 62 years
.......................
Note:
Broken graveslab
Under this stone lieth the body of
Thomas Ellis
Who departed this life
18 Jun 1763
Here lieth the body of
Thomas Fawcett
Who departed this life
21 Sep 1825?
In the ?5th year of his age
Here lieth the body of
John Galagher
Who died 2 Apr 1812
Aged 65 years
INRI
Pray for the Soul of
M Galla(gher?)
Who departed this life June ?
Aged 8 years?
Also his (sister)?
?
June ......... 17 ?
Aged 5 years
Note:
Broken graveslab
Here lieth the body of
Edward Gillespy
Who died 28 Jan 1826
Aged 64 years
Also the body of
Frank Gillespy
Who died 19 Aug 1826
Aged 19 years
Here lieth the body of
Frances Hamilton
? Rev James Hamilton
Who died 18 Jul 1804
Aged ?
Also the body of
Catherine ?
..................
INRI
Pray for the Soul of
Mauris Heagarty
Who departed this life 9 Apr 1784
Aged 61 years
Here lieth the body of
Patrick Hegerty
Who departed this life 22 Mar 1784
Aged 62 years
Also
Bridget Hegerty
Who departed this life 6 Jun 1803
Aged 16 years
Here lieth the body of
James Kerr
Who departed this life ? Jan 1832
Aged 62 years
Also the body of
Aney Kerr
Who died 27 Jan 1835
Aged 63 years
IHS
Memento Mori
Here lie the remains of
Connel Lyons
Who departed this life 1 Nov 1845
Aged 67 years
Requiescat in Pace
INRI
Pray for the Soul of
Hugh McCally (McCary?)
Who departed this life 17? Jun 1788
Aged 67 years
Also his Wife
Died ?9 Jun 1778
Aged 55? years
(select to view enlargement)
INRI
Coneill MCar?
1786
Here lieth the body of
John McCunagen
Who departed this life 6 Aug 1769
Aged 63 years
By John McCunagen
Here lieth the body of
John McFadden
Who departed this life
And was entard (sic) under this stone
12 Nov 1829
Aged 20 years
INRI
Here lie the bodys of
Daniel McNulty
And his Wife
Sally Gallacher
He died 24 Mar 1802
Aged 55 years
Here lie the bodies of
Owen and Elleonar McShaun
The former died 27 Jan 1820
Aged 67 years
The latter 28 Dec 1816
Aged 58 years
Here lieth the body of
John Mgrary
Who died 15 Aug 1818
Aged 15 years
Here lieth the body of
Thomas Mitchell
Who died 12 Apr 1823
Aged 16? years
....................
Note:
Broken graveslab, partially buried
Here lie the bodys of
Teague and Catharine O'Byrne
The former departed this life 8 Feb 1809
Aged 66 years
The latter 7 Jul 1808
Aged 28 years
IHS
Here lies the body of
Didley O'Donel
Who departed this life 4 Jun 1849
Aged 57 years
INRI
Memnto Mori
Pray for the Soul of
Dudley Daniel (O'Donnell)
Who departed this life 22 Jun 1783
Aged 59 years
This stone was erected by
John Daniell
His Father & Famely
IHS
INRI
Memnto Mori
Here lieth the body of
John O'Donnell
Who departed this life 9 May 1835
Aged 84 years
Requiescat in Pace
INRI
Here lieth the body of
Brigid O'Gara alias Nelus
Who died 11 Mar 1814
Aged 58 years
This tomb was erected by
John Gara
Here lieth the body of
Cormick O'Heena
Who departed this life 20 Jun 1812
Aged 72 years
Here lieth the body of
Miles Sweeny
Who departed this life 12 Aug 1797
Aged 27 years
This tomb was erected by
Neal Sweeny
Here lyeth the body of
Peggy Sweeney
Who departed this life 4 Apr 1786
Aged 84 years
Here lieth the body of
Bryan mWard
Who departed this life 4 Jan 1767
Aged 76 years
IHS
Memento Mori
Here lieth the body of
Francis Ward
Who departed this life 12 Mar 1838
Aged 71 years
Requiescant in Pace
Here lieth the body of
Hanny Ward
Who departed this life 11 Aug 1817
Aged 42 years
IHS
Here lieth the body of
Owen Ward
Who died 29 Feb 1827
Aged 74 years
Also the body of
Moris Ward
Who died 19 Nov 1836
Aged 20 years
