Grave Yard, dotted outline — Aderrig

Aderrig church (DU017-028002-) and graveyard stands on an artificial rise of ground defined by a levelled enclosure (DU017-028001-) in flat, low-lying ground. The graveyard is unfenced with two gravestones outside the SW corner of the ruined medieval church (DU017-028002-) one of which belongs to the Russell family dating from 1733 the other belonging to the McKeone family dating from 1820 (Henry Wheeler 13/09/1977). The inscription on the headstone reads – ‘Erected by John Mckeone, Mountsreet, Dublin, in memory of his beloved mother Jane McKeone who departed this life January the 16th, 1820 aged 63 years’ (H.A.Wheeler 13/09/1977). Aderrig church (DU017-028002-), graveyard (DU017-028003-) and enclosure (DU017-028001-) was described in 1857 as follows; ‘we reach an ancient road called Alderg, or Aderrig lane, and, at a little distance, the thickly ivy-covered ruin of the very ancient church presents itself, standing in a field in which can be indistinctly traced the boundary [DU017-028001-] of the grave yard and there are few in the county that present such as forgotten and desolate appearance. As in many other instances that we have had to record, the ancient road-way has been appropriated by the owner of the adjoining land, and the graveyard will soon cease to contain any monument of those who In silent hope repose under the green sod. The church of Aderrig appears to have been on those small stone roofed buildings, erected in the latter end of the thirteenth century. It measures about 36 feet by 18, and from the inroads of cattle and the destruction of people, who, for the sake of the cut stone gumis and dressings, have nearly pulled the fabric to pieces, the only portion remaining that could mark the date is the lancet headed doorway shown in the view, Mr. monk Mason, in his History of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, mentions, “that early in the thirteenth century Archbishop Luke directed that five marks of the annual funds of this church should be allotted to light the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the residue distributed amongst the Vicars celebrating Mass there”. Soon afterwards this church was erected into a prebend, which, in 1306 was valued at 114 shillings, Adam de Stratton being then its prebendary. There are only two or three grave stones in the churchyard, which, as we said before, presents a desolate and neglected appearance. The Parish of Aderrig contains about 760 acres, and the rectory is inappropriate in the Vicars Choral of St. Patrick’ (Sloane 1857, 255-6). See drawing of church and graveyard taken from Irish Literary Gazette 1857 Sloane, J. 1857 Antiquarian Rambles in the County of Dublin. Irish literary Gazette 1857, 265-66. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 31 May 2023