Young people in Carlow have published a pamphlet documenting the dead at St Mullin's graveyard.
A project to record a history of St Mullin's graveyard is being carried out by young people. Pat Doyle who manages the project says that the registration of graves is a worthwhile project which has created employment for young people.
We're instilling in young people the need for parish patriotism.
St Mullin's graveyard has a connection with families in the parish and with the people who emigrated from the area.
The group of young people traced the history of the graveyard back more than 1,300 years when former Bishop of Ferns and Glendalough Saint Moling was buried there. There were no headstones then, they only came into use in the 17th century.
The oldest headstone at St Mullin's is that of Jane Kavanagh who died in 1701.
Due to the age of the headstones, documenting the dates and names was a challenge for the researchers. One of the researchers, Mary O'Neill, describes the cleaning techniques used on the headstones so that the information could be retrieved and catalogued.
St Mullin's was the home of one of the oldest people ever to live in Ireland. Next to a stone commemorating Saint Moling is the grave of Catherine Doyle who lived to the incredible age of one hundred and twenty six. Another fascinating character buried in the graveyard is Art MacMurrough King of Leinster who was allegedly poisoned at New Ross in 1417. Some men who died in the 1798 Rebellion are also buried there including one of the leaders General Thomas Cloney. The headstone of Henry Hammond from Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny reads,
Hanged at Kilkenny for making pipes
The graveyard contains a lookout post for the secret masses from the penal days when Catholics were banned from attending. A small window in the altar allowed the priest to keep a lookout. Fr Daniel Kavanagh, a local priest during the penal days is buried in front of the altar. A legend associated with Fr Kavanagh's grave offers a cure for toothache.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 October 1984. The reporter is Des Cahill.
