Ballyscadden Burial Ground, County Limerick

What is recorded here

Ballyscadden Burial Ground in Ryves Castle has an obelisk proudly tracing the family back to ‘Dorcetshire’. Genealogy in stone is a dangerous business: one spelling slips through and your ancestors come from a county you’ve invented yourself.

Freestanding monument, dated 1779, including limestone ashlar obelisk on limestone ashlar panelled pedestal on plinth. Set on mound in burial ground.

A monument erected by William Ryves (1708-83) of Castle Jane [Ryves Castle later Ballyscaddane] illustrating the eighteenth-century penchant for eye-catching mausolea and memorials inspired by Classical antiquity. The obelisk, in poor repair, displays good quality workmanship in its construction in a deep grey limestone while the pedestal carries a plaque inscribed: "This Monument/was Erected by William Ryves of Castlejane Esq/Anno Domini 1779/to the Memory of his Grand Father William/who departed this Life A.D 1703/and of his Father Nicholas deceased A.D 1714/Descendants of an antient [sic] Family in/Dorcetshire [sic] England".

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 21904103

This does not grant access. Most recorded buildings are privately owned; view them only from public ground unless the owner allows entry.