St Marys Ch., G. Yd.

The graveyard of the Church of Ireland in Blessington contains eight 17th-century headstones. These include granite stones erected to Darby Burke (ob. 1690), Richard Benell (ob. 1686), Ann Hiall (ob. 1687), Thomes Lear (ob. 1688), William Beates (ob. 1685) and William Bluomey (ob. 1683), a fragment of the stone erected to Richard Provei (ob. 168-), and a bevelled stone executed in sandstone erected to David Murphy (ob. 1699). The headstone of William Bluomey states that he was the first to be buried in the graveyard. The headstones have recently been re-erected against the N wall of the graveyard. The present church is of early 19th-century date. 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. Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008