Grave Yd. — Shrule

Graveyard associated with the Hartpole family of Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-). Burial ground standing on top of ridge overlooking the River Barrow 40m to the E with Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-) 35m to the SSW. Depicted as a small square-shaped graveyard on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map. The graveyard depicted on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map is smaller than the area depicted as the 'Burial Ground (Disused)' on the revised 25-inch OS map. In the late 18th century the site was described as ‘the ancient burial-place of the Hartpole family and its followers for ages. Scattered graves, some green, some russet, denoted the recentness or remoteness of the different interments; and a few broad flag-stones indented with defaced or illegible inscriptions, and covering the remains of the early masters of the domain, just uplifted their mouldering sides from amongst weeds and briars, and thus half disclosed the only objects which could render that cemetery interesting. One melancholy yew tree, spreading wide its straggling branches over the tombs of its former lords and the nave of an ancient chapel (LA032-012004-), (its own hollow trunk proclaiming that it could not long survive) seemed to await, in awful augury, the honor of expiring with the last scion of its hereditary chieftains’ (Barrington 1827, 63). According to Comerford (1886, 72) the burial ground at Shrule was ‘an ancient cemetery and, most probably also, the site of a church (LA032-012004-). It immediately adjoins Shrule Castle (LA032-012001-), and is still occasionally used for interments; the remaining tomb-stones, the dates of which range from 1737, show no inscription calling for notice’. Present remains consist of a sub-rectangular shaped graveyard (int. dims. 44m N-S; 37m E-W) enclosed by a post-medieval wall (int. H 1m; Wall T 0.45m) with entrance gate (Wth. 1.5m) in centre of N wall with stone stile to W of entrance gate. In the centre of the graveyard there are a row of low upright stones aligned N-S which are the remains of un-inscribed grave markers. Located in the S quadrant of the graveyard are the remains of a post-medieval grave covered in ivy and enclosed by iron railings. Several yew trees have been planted around the perimeter of the grave. To the S of this grave are the poorly preserved ivy-covered remains of low wall which appears to be the S wall of some sort of tomb or possibly the remains of a church (LA032-012004-). This wall is covered in ivy and is impossible to examine and appears to represent the S wall of a building aligned E-W. The S wall of the structure runs parallel to the S wall of the graveyard and is only 1m to the N of this wall. The SE quadrant of the graveyard was covered in trees and other vegetation making examination of this area impossible. A second stone stile can be seen in the SE angle of the graveyard wall. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revision: 11 December 2014