Headstone in Newcastle Middle

Situated on a low rise with a steep drop on the N side. Part of the medieval borough of Newcastle (WI019-005----) this foundation was granted to the convent of Grace Dieu by John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin (1181-1212) but nothing now survives of the medieval establishment. The present structure is a late 18th or early 19th-century Church of Ireland parish church (Bradley and King 1989, 65) which may be on the site of the earlier church (WI019-005001-). The triangular graveyard (WI019-005006-), defined by a modern wall and bordered by the public road at the W and N contains a large number of early 18th-century headstones. The base (Wth. 0.43m; T 0.03m; H 0.9-0.23m) of one broken 17th-century headstone (..ST...TH...20TH...1699; M W 1699) lies at the E end of the church. This headstone is located in the 18th century Walsh family burial plot located 0.5m E of the external face of the SE angle of the C of I church. The M W probably represents the burial place of a member of the Walsh family who died in 1699. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 16 November 2012