Launch of Kilcomin Graveyard book

On Saturday, June 10, at 8pm Shinrone Historical Society and Kilcomin Graveyard Group are jointly launching a new book which details all of the memorial at the historic graveyard of Kilcomin. The launch is in Shinrone Community Centre.

This book is the result of three years work by historian Stephen Callaghan who has previously published on the burials at Birr Barracks in Crinkill and St Brendan’s Old Graveyard in Birr town. The book will be launched by local archaeologist Denis Shine of the Irish Heritage School in Birr.

In 2021 the Kilcomin Graveyard Group applied to the Heritage Council under their Community Grant Programme for a report on the condition of the church and graveyard in order to plan for its long term care. This resulted in David Kelly Partners preparing the report on the church and boundary wall and the survey of the memorials by Stephen Callaghan. In 2022 the report was the basis for an application to the Community Monuments Fund administered by the National Monuments Service and funding was received to conserve the upstanding remains of the church and to repair the collapsed boundary wall. Offaly County Council commissioned Truir Construction who carried out the works during summer and autumn 2022 and were guided by David Kelly Partnership along with Denis Shine, archaeologist with the Irish Heritage School in Birr. This book is an important step in documenting the graveyard and in making the information available for the community and for researchers further afield. Stephen has taken the time to photograph the memorials in the best light possible, which in many cases is oblique light at night. His drone photography makes locating the memorials clear.

All are welcome to the launch. Signed copies will be available on the night with copies available in Centra, Shinrone, after the launch.