School: Rathún (Clochar) (roll number 1013)

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1. Forthill

   

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   Forthill which is situated on the south side of Galway within a few minutes walk of the Docks ranks amongst the most ancient and historic cemeteries in Ireland. Though the date on the tablet over the entrance of the old Mortuary Chapel is 1500 A.D. there is very reason for believing that it was in existence for some centuries previous to that date. An ecclesiastical writer (Allemande) states that an Augustinian Church existed on the spot now known as Forthill early in the 13th century. If such is the case it is more than probable that the Cemetery also existed, as a cemetery almost immediately sprang up round each old Irish Abbey. Re that however, as it may, we know for certain that the old Cemetery was the site of the beautiful Church erected for the Augustinian Friars by Margaret Athy wife of Stephen Lynch Fitz Dominic for many years Mayor of Galway.

   Thirty years later, 1538, the Church, Monastery and adjoining lands including the Cemetery, were confiscated, but the Augustinians backed up by the townspeople managed to retain the Church and small portion of ground which constituted

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. historical and commemorative structures (~6,794)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Carmel Kavanagh

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   10

   Address

   Henry Street, Co. Galway

   Informant

   Mrs Monaghan

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Quay Street, Co. Galway