STUDENT BURIALS 1820-

 

This is a listing of the early student burials in Maynooth College Cemetery. It is unclear if the original graves were marked individually; the remains of what looks like a generic stone marker still stands in the centre of the area dedicated to student burials. In or about 1907 each gravesite was marked by a decorative iron cross, and (except in three cases) a number was inscribed on each one. At the same time, a list of all those buried in the cemetery up to that point in time was inscribed on stone panels on either side of the arch at the entrance to the cemetery. This list was numbered in order of interment of both professors and students (except for the numbers 1-10 which were reserved for the first professors to be buried there). From 1864 onwards, students were buried in graves marked by small inscribed stones with their names, status, diocese, date of death and age at death. Some students whose names are on the inscribed list do not have a designated burial place, and may have been buried in the sites marked by the three decorative crosses that have no numbers.

 

As the inscribed numbers on the decorative crosses do not always follow a regular progress from left to right, it is obvious that burials were often at random in the available space.

 

An interesting inclusion in the list is the name of Sr. Mary Joseph Fleming (d. 1827), a member of the Presentation Sisters who had just established a new foundation in Maynooth, with the support and direction of Fr. Anglade of the college staff. She is buried under a modern headstone in the top right-hand corner of the cemetery as one looks from the entrance.

 

There is no evidence that any part of the cemetery was set aside as unconsecrated ground, and two students who died tragically (John O'Grady in 1841 and Thomas McGinn in 1860) are buried in the normal order of interment.

 

A list in Healy's Centenary History of Maynooth (1895) notes that a matron of the infirmary (the Daughters of Charity did not assume nursing duties until 1905) and a bursar's clerk are buried within the cemetery precincts, but nothing is known of their gravesites. It may be that they are among those marked by un-numbered crosses.

 

 

STUDENTS AND OTHERS BURIED IN THE 'PIONEER PLOT' SECTION

 

Denis Gorman: Subdeacon; Student for Waterford (died aged 25) b. 12 November 1795 d. 7 April 1820

 

William Dignan: Subdeacon; Student for Dublin (died aged 23) b.1798 d. 26 June 1821

 

Bernard Furlong: Cleric; Student for Ferns (died aged 27) b. 1797 d. 2 July1824

 

Michael Dee: Acolyte; Student for Kerry (died aged 21) b. 1804  d.1825

 

John Caulfield: Cleric; Student for Ferns (died aged 22) b. 1805 d. 23 April 1827

 

(Sr. Mary Joseph Fleming: Sister of Presentation Convent Maynooth; Professed 3 August 1827 d. 27 August 1827)

 

Peter Watson: Cleric: Student for Derry (died aged 23) b. 1805 d. 1 November 1828

 

John Vaughan: Cleric: Student for Kilmacduagh (died aged 23) b. 1806 d. 22 April 1829

 

Thomas McGinnis: Acolyte; Student for Ardagh (died aged 25) b. 1806 d. 1 November 1831

 

John Locke: Priest of Dublin (died aged 26)  b. 1807 d. 29 August 1833 (described as ‘missionary priest’)

 

Patrick McCann: Student for Armagh (died aged 29) b. 1805 d. 3 January 1835

 

John O’Grady: Student for Limerick (died aged 20-21)  b. 1820 d. 1 March 1841

 

James Shiel: Student for Clonfert (died aged 17) b. 1825 d. 31 December 1843

 

Peter Kehoe: Student for Waterford (died aged 24) b. 1 June 1824; d. 18 March 1849

 

John Tuohy: Student for Kerry (died aged 23-4) b. 1826 d. 12 April 1850

 

Thomas Carey: Student for Meath (died aged 25-6) b. 1827 d. 2 October 1853

 

Richard Devitt: Student for Killala (died aged 24-5) b. 1831 d. 1 April 1856

 

Hugh McCormack: Student for Meath (died aged 23) b. 10 December 1830 d. 8 June 1854 

 

William O’Donnell: Student for Raphoe (died aged 23) b. 1834 d. 7 January 1858

 

John O’Donohue: Student for Clonfert (died aged 23)  b. 24 June 1836 d. 7 February 1860

 

Thomas McGinn: Student for Kilmore (died aged 21) b. 6 June 1838 d. 21 April 1860

 

Eugene McCarthy: Student for Kerry (died aged 22) b. 21 February 1838 d. 13 December 1860

 

Henry Mulligan:  Student for Down & Connor (died aged 22) b. 6 August 1838 d. 25 March 1861

 

William Murray: Cleric; Student for Cork (died aged 21) b. 27 October 1839 d. 10 April 1861

 

Bernard Hennessy: Student for Kilmore (died aged 27) b. 5 January 1835 d. 27 March 1862

 

Dominic Murphy: Priest; Cork (died aged 26) b. 22 February1836 d. 30 April 1862 (student at Dunboyne House)

 

Bartholomew Kelly: Student for Kerry (died aged 24) b. 12 April 1838 d. 3 June 1862   

 

John Murphy: Cleric; Student for Cork (died aged 24) b. 10 April 1840 d. 16 May 1864

 

Augustine McLoughlin*: Cleric; Student for Armagh (died aged 23) b. 4 April 1842 d. 12 May 1865

 

* Exact location of grave uncertain