Killinane Graveyard

Killinane Graveyard is located in the townland of Castleboy in the parish of Kilchreest, Co Galway. It is accessed via a long  laneway off the N66 approximately 4.5km from the village of Kilchreest.  Although  signposted it is secluded. Come with suitable footwear!

The graveyard  is located within the domain of the Old Roxborough Estate.

Roxborough House was once home to the Persse Family and many family members are interred in the graveyard including Lady Gregory’s family, as well  as local Church of Ireland families thus its inclusion in the  Lady Gregory Yeats Heritage Trail.

In 2006  Kilchreest Castledaly Heritage Group, after receiving  funding from the Heritage Council and from Galway County Council commissioned Moore Archaelogical &Environmental Services to survey the site.  With the permission of the Church Representative Body they then undertook the clean up of the graveyard which was hidden from view by brambles, briars, bushes and heavy undergrowth. It had become totally overgrown and neglected over the years.  It was a huge undertaking but all the work to date has been carried out by local volunteers who give generously of their time.  The group are currently collecting data, reading headstone inscriptions and are hoping that all this information will be digitised later this year by Galway County Council. This will prove invaluable for descendants of families laid to rest there tracing their  roots. Although there are some unmarked graves within the grounds  it is  hoped that this project will assist them.

In early spring the graveyard is awash with colour, snowdrops, bluebells and daffodils grow in abundance.

Among family names recorded include the following:

Alexander,Bateman, Baskerville,  Ball, Bradshaw, Byrn, Cardon,  Canon, Clayton,Clarke, Dillon, Ellis,Fitsgerald,Galbraith, Gloster, Hall, Jenkinson, Joynt, Johnson,O’Donnell, Persse, Rathborne ,Ryan, Rourke,  Sloane, Spinks, Taylor, Robinson, Jones, McKenzie, Nolan, Roberts.

Further information on Killinane graveyard from the Galway County Council website click here