A Graveyard Near Donegal Pass

[Volvic]

Would anyone know about a graveyard in the vicinity of Donegal Pass.

Three of my Grandfather's sisters died within a very short time of each other in the early 1900's. I think it was TB, not sure, but many other people died around the same time.

Their name was Russell and they lived in Virginia Street, just off Donegal Pass and they are supposed to be buried in a graveyard near to where they lived.

The family, as far as I understand it, had come from Bessbrook to live in Belfast. They went to Berry Street Pb Church.

Any help would be really appreciated.
Thank you,
Brian.

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Belfast’s Donegal Pass’s Church of Ireland church has its own webite www.st-marymagdalene.org.uk but it doesn’t mention a graveyard attached . Donegal Pass Presbyterian Church I didn’t find details of. I had a look at Tombstones from Ulster but didn’t connect to a graveyard

From www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/your_questions/skipton_st.shtml
A Jones - Apr '07
You can see some photos of St Mary Magdalene Church on our website -
www.st-marymagdalene.org.uk
Carol Fulton - Feb '07
I am interested in getting any information or memories of St Mary magdalene Church in Donegal Pass. If anyone has information, photos, stories please contact me.

Someone else will know the area well, I would email www.st-marymagdalene.org.uk   
Last thought it could be the Stranmillis Friars Bush cemetry which has been indexed , back to Tombstones from Ulster
Good luck, Jim

[Volvic]

Dear Jim,

Thanks very much for that. I contacted St. Mary Magdalene Church so maybe they will know where the graveyard was.

Best wishes,
Brian.

[Christopher]

Hiya Brian and Jim,

The Belfast City Council site has a page about the History of Cemeteries in the city. It lists a few that were in existence up to the middle of the nineteenth century. One of these was the Donegall Road Cemetery which was run by the Board of Guardians. I'm not sure, at the moment, of its location but it would qualify as being near to Donegall Pass.

Christopher

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Mary Lennons website for 1907 directory says
Donegall Road
from Dublin Road to Falls Road

[Christopher]

I wonder what they called the Dublin Road in those days. Ah ... the same as today ... Dublin Road ... Bedford Street to University Road. It's a pity the directories don't mention the location of cemeteries.

An article on St Peter's Cathedral refers to Donegall Road being a new road in 1870 and yet there was a cemetery on the Donegall Road prior to the middle of the nineteenth century. I wonder how long a road has to be in existence before it's no longer a new road.

[DixieDee]

Hi Volvic / Chris.
I come from the Donegall Road area and as kids we were told that the Donegall Rd., children's playground was built over a mass burial site, related to an epidemic in the 1800's (Christoper may have some info on that).  The playground was a couple of hundred yards before Roden Street, on the right going out of town. It's been redeveloped and houses have been built on the site.
Volvic, I think your best bet for their burials has to be the City Cemetery, which would be about 2 miles or so from Donegall Pass.
It's a straight run from Donegall Pass, across Shaftesbury Square, straight up the Donegall Road and cross the Falls Road into the City Cemetery.
Regards,
Dixie

[Volvic]

Hi Christopher, Jim and Dixie Dee,

I am so sorry that I haven't replied before this. My computer has been playing up and I discovered I had a virus which wouldn't allow me to connect to a web page. Everything seems to be all right now. 

Thank you very much for all your help with this. I will check the City Cemetery again as I have got another date of a death.

Again, many thanks to you all for your kind help.

Brian.

[Christopher]

Hi Volvic / Chris.
I come from the Donegall Road area and as kids we were told that the Donegall Rd., children's playground was built over a mass burial site, related to an epidemic in the 1800's (Christoper may have some info on that).  The playground was a couple of hundred yards before Roden Street, on the right going out of town. It's been redeveloped and houses have been built on the site.
Volvic, I think your best bet for their burials has to be the City Cemetery, which would be about 2 miles or so from Donegall Pass.
It's a straight run from Donegall Pass, across Shaftesbury Square, straight up the Donegall Road and cross the Falls Road into the City Cemetery.
Regards,
Dixie

Dixie,

William Roulston of the UHF was speaking to us at the course on Thursday last. I asked him about the Donegall Road Cemetery and he thought it would have been at the back of the Workhouse. That occupied approximately the area that the City Hospital occupies ... i.e. from the Lisburn Road to the Donegall Road. The playground theory sounds OK.

Christopher