DRUMCLIFF CEMETERY (CALVARY SECTION) – CEMETERY TRAIL .. Book Launch

DRUMCLIFF (Calvary Section)

Clare Roots Roots Society will launch its publication Drumcliff Cemetery (Calvary Section) – Cemetery Trail in the Old Ground Hotel on Thursday 21 June 2012 at 8 pm. The Clare Roots Society is continuing its work of photographing, transcribing and publishing details of the burials in Drumcliff Cemetery in Ennis, Co. Clare.

The Society has previously documented and published the burials in the Old Cemetery with the booklet “Drumcliff The Hidden History” which is out of print now. The Society has now moved across the road and completed the work in the Calvary section of the new Cemetery. The Drumcliff Cemetery (Calvary Section), compiled and edited by John Bradley, is a joint initiative between the Roots Society and Ennis Tidy Towns. The gravestone inscriptions were recorded by volunteers from Clare Roots Society in the earlier part of the year.

The new burial ground was formerly opened on Sunday the 17 May, 1936 and it was solemnly consecrated by the Very Rev. M. Madden Adm. The new cemetery is laid out in square plots, surrounded by grave walks.

The first person buried in the new cemetery was Mr. J.K. Madigan, whose funeral had taken place on Tuesday the 11 May 1936. A Grotto depiction of Calvary was erected in 1937.

To date 642 Graves have been opened in that section, and 1,802 Burials have been recorded. A Map of the Section of the cemetery is included in the book.

The booklet includes background information on the life and times of a number of people including: Brendan O’Regan founder of the first Duty Free Shop in the world at Shannon; Paddy Con Mc Mahon, owner and builder of the Newhall Ballroom. We also read about Thomas Sheils originally from Cavan who came to Ennis and founded T. Sheils & Co.; Timothy Smythe, athlete, politician and today remembered for giving his name to Tim Smythe Park; Patrick & Eileen McNamara from Ard-na-Greine, parents of the late Archbishop of Dublin, Kevin McNamara; Michael (Miko) Ball of the Red Shadows music group; also the musicians McMahon brothers, Michael & Flan known throughout County Clare. Along with remembering others, the book reviews again the Shannon Air Disaster of 1948 and the burials associated with the disaster.

The main purpose of the booklet is to present a hard copy of the burial records with a number of background details of individuals. The front cover of the book is particularly striking, featuring an image of the Calvary scene together with photographs of some of the people featured in the book. The book will be launched after the presentation and will be widely available. All are welcome to the launch of the book.