Annageliff Graveyard: A secret oasis of history and nature
Until a discrete brown sign appeared on the Dublin Road earlier this year, many Cavan people may not have known Annageliff Cemetery even exists. A steep lane leads up to a little time capsule semi buried in an oasis of nature.
It was brought to the attention of Cavan Tidy Towns that the graveyard had received “very little attention” for decades. Untouched since Loreto College pupils undertook research on it in 1986, Paul Lynch of Cavan Tidy Towns notes that nature has since “flourished”.
“In many ways that nature and biodiversity has been preserving the history, the gravestones and the writings.”
A tidy up has struck a balance between habitat protection and public amenity. They have found willing partners in Cavan County Council.
“The council were more than willing to help us out,” Paul says, with special mention of Heritage Officer Ann Marie Ward, Marie Morgan of Waste Management and horticulturalist Bernie McGovern.
They trimmed back trees and hedges in winter and the cuttings have been shredded with the woodchips used to create paths to make it more accessible and ensure visitors don’t walk on graves.
Tidy Towns have put together a research team to try to establish those buried in the plots and have uploaded their findings online. They have identified over 100 names of people buried there.
“That team have done excellent work, there are stories of individuals who are legendary to Cavan Town buried in that graveyard. It carries a very clear story of Irish history about the plantation, the settlers, and the O’Reilly clan.
“The research has led us to believe that the church in the graveyard is the original church of the O’Reilly Clan.”
They are eager to ensure the cemetery remains a resource to future generations and Marie White of Cavan Tidy Towns’ Green Schools sub committee has created a biodiversity and heritage trail within the graveyard.
“That trail is being rolled out to all of the primary schools in the town.”
“We are going to try our best to put in place a plan for this graveyard that will protect the history and protect the biodiversity to make sure that this graveyard is not forgotten again, the gates are not closed,” he vows.
Annageliff’s secrets are only coming to the surface now, but with the group being successful in their application for the ‘Adopt A Monument Ireland’ scheme - which will see experts put together a heritage plus biodiversity management plan, it promises to reveal so much more.
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