Magheracloone / Machaire Cluana

St Molua's Church and Graveyard

St Molua's, Church of Ireland, Church is situated in Camaghy Townland. It stands on the site of the earlier Roman Catholic Parish Church of Magheracloone. We were expecting to see a lot more of the Ulster style of gravestones, but surprisingly there were much fewer than anticipated. The graveyard contains the remains of both Catholics and Protestants. There are a few pointers to look for to identify the religion of the deceased. In Ireland the cross symbol and the letters IHS are always associated with catholic burials, so we can presume the Latin cross memorials stones pictured below, indicate a catholic burial.

During the Plantations in Ireland during the 16th/17th centuries many Protestant colonists from Scotland settled in Ulster. The use of Mortality symbols, Momento Mori, such as the Bell, Coffin, Crossed bones, Hourglass and Skull was widespread in Protestant graveyards in Scotland. These symbols plus others started to also appear on Catholic memorial stones throughout Ulster. The graveyards at Tydavnet, Errigal Trough, Edergole, Killeevan and Donagh in County Monaghan, all have excellent examples of memorial stones bearing Momento Mori.

Situated: From Carrickmacross take the R179 southwest for 6.5 kilometres. Then turn right onto the L49014 Drummond, after 400 metres turn left. St Moluas Church is 350 metres down here on your left.

Discovery Map 35: N 79823 99724. Last visit April 2021.

Longitude: 6° 47' 06.2" W

Latitude: 53° 56' 27.1" N

Google Map.

Photos: José Gutiérrez.