What is recorded here

Kiltubbrid graveyard in County Leitrim holds two vanished memorials: one for O’Reilly with lions, a hand and a snake descending an oak, the other for McMahon of Monaghan with an ostrich, horse-shoe, crossed swords, lions and a dove. Bryan McMahon rode with Owen Roe O’Neill at Benburb in 1646, while his brother Hugh was hanged at Tyburn after 1641, leaving the grave without his body. Neither stone can now be identified, unless they sleep inside the mausoleum beneath the north wall, waiting for someone to remember what they showed.

There is a record of two memorials at Kiltubbrid graveyard (LE024-021002-), one with the arms of O’Reilly consisting of ‘two lions rampant supporting a dexter hand: Crest, an oak with a snake descending’ (Anon. 1937, 67). The other had the arms of McMahon of Monaghan ‘an ostrich holding a horse-shoe in its beak, two crossed swords, two rampant lions, supporters, and a dove. The motto is “Manus haec inimica tyrannis”’ (ibid.). The names recorded on the McMahon memorial were those of the brothers Bryan and Hugh McMahon. Bryan commanded the cavalry of Owen Roe O’Neill at the battle of Benburb in 1646, but Hugh was hanged at Tyburn sometime after 1641 so his remains are not present. Neither memorial can now be identified, unless they are in the mausoleum structure inside the N wall of the graveyard. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 13 January, 2017

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