The Old Kilbride Graveyard
Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland
The ancient church that once stood in the centre of the graveyard was St. Brigid’s church which in Irish is Cill Bhride. The feast day of St. Brigid is the 1st of February. The ancient church of the old parish of Kilbride was built by the Augustinian Canons of the Congregation of St. Victor, St. Catherine’s Priory, of Waterford. The ruins of the ancient church are barely visible today in 2020. The walls were originally almost 3 feet thick and the church measured 43 feet by 18.5 feet. The baptismal font, which is square in shape, is still found in the graveyard away from the church ruins. Glenmore Village Historian, Daniel Dowling (1927- ) recorded headstones which bear local family names of Grant, Forristal, Foley, Walsh, Tracey, Murray, Holden, Dollard, Martin, Dower and Knox. Today, in 2020 there are 18 visible headstones and several are not legible headstones.
See, Wm. Carrigan (1905) The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossary, available at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/digital-book-collection/ under the section on Co. Kilkenny; J. Doherty (2000) “The Parish Graveyards of Glenmore,” Glenmore Times, p. 36.
The photographs and inscriptions on this page were taken by Glenmore-History,com volunteers in September 2020.
To the left is the squarish stone that has been identified as the holy water font. It has a hole in the middle of the bottom, The stone is located between the remains of the old church and the front gate.
Holden Celtic Cross Marker on the right.
Erected in loving memory of John Holden, of Clune, who died 31st Dec. 1909, aged 65 years Honor Holden née Grant who died 15th Aug. 1909, aged 65. Also their daughter Johanna Holden who died 30th March 1907, aged 27 years. Also their son Bartley Holden who died 30th Nov 1943, aged 63 years, and his wife Mary Holden née Aylward who died 5th March 1944, aged 61 years. John Holden died 2 Feb. 1973, aged 60 years.
Side of stone–Also their granddaughter Johanna Holden died 20 Dec. 1946, aged 28 years. Their son Walter Holden, North St., New Ross, died 16 March 1955, aged 72 years. Michael Holden died 12 Dec. 1969, aged 48 years. Matthew Holden died 25 Nov. 1970, aged 51 years.
A World War 1 military marker is in the corner of the Kilbride Graveyard. The simple inscription: 163344 Sapper J. Dower, Royal Engineers, 6th July 1918.
According to British military records service number 163344 belonged to James Dower, of Ferrybank who held the rank of Pioneer in 1914 in the Royal Engineers; and attained the rank of Sapper in 1918.
Next to the WWI marker is the Martin Family grave. The inscription on the modern stone on the left in the photo: “Cherished Memories of A Loving Wife, Mother, and Grandmother, Ellen Martin, Ballylammy, Glenmore, died 2nd April 2003, aged 74, Her Husband Nicholas (Nicky) Martin died 10th November 2017, aged 89.”
Ellen Martin’s maiden name was Gaule.
This page was updated 25th October 2020