Original Survey of MOYGOWNAGH OLD GRAVEYARD

Over December 2007 To September 2010, researcher Pauline Mahon conducted a detailed survey and appraisal of Moygownagh Old Graveyard and the recordings of each grave inscription by the North Mayo Family Research Centre, parish church registers and official burial records. Her final report to the local pastoral council, proposed the erection of a mapped information display at the graveyard car-park, which would provide visitors with the necessary information to navigate their way to graves of interest to them—similar to other signage at Kilfian and Bonnifinglas. Her report looked forward to future volunteers building on her work, to honour this ancient monument and open this sacred home of our ancestors to their descendants in the many years ahead.

DIGITISING THE HEADSTONES

In the summer of 2016, Moygownagh Old Graveyard at Knockaculleen became the first graveyard in Mayo to be digitally surveyed and geotagged. Led by Liam Alex Heffron, this was achieved with the superb volunteers from Moygownagh and Crossmolina working with Historic Graves Ireland, under the masterful guidance of archaeologist Dr. John Tierney (Eachtra.ie). The funding of the work was made possible by a grant from the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund 2016 - Dept. for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid.

The result of all these endeavours is this present database of extant headstone transcriptions in the old graveyard at Knockaculleen, Moygownagh, Co. Mayo and is provided free of charge to the public. We are truly thankful to Pauline, Dr Tierney and all the volunteers who were involved in this project over many years, to make this happen.