Private Cemetery near Arigna

[Clemans]

Can anyone help?

I am trying to find a private cemetery on the shore of Lough Allen near Arigna.

The clue I have is an account by my grandfather written in 1917 (he was on his way from Australia to fight in France).  He wrote:

"With Jim I went all around the place,
visiting the grounds of the late Major
Somebody's residence on the shore of Loch
Allen. We went along the road to the
cemetery where grandmother and dad's
brother are buried together. We did not go in
as it was then dark and Jim was not sure he
could find the grave.

So, a private graveyard in an estate on Lough Allen once owned by Major "somebody"?

Not much I know, but worth a try!

Thanks

Clemans

[Wexflyer]

A comment and a question:
- There is nothing in the quoted extract to say that this was necessarily a private cemetery. Many old cemeteries are located within or on private land, but are not private cemeteries.
- The majority of Lough Allen in in Leitrim. So is there some additional information to say that the place of interest is in Roscommon?

[Wexflyer]

Near Lough Allen, there are several cemeteries including Kilbride Cemetery, just to the north of the lake, where victims of the 1831 Lough Allen tragedy are buried. Fahy cemetery is on the east side of the lake, right next to the lake shore.

Other nearby cemeteries are Mullaghgarve Famine Graveyard in Annadale, Co. Leitrim, and Tarmon Abbey in Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim. Additionally, Arigna Graveyard in Agrigna, Co. Roscommon, and Drumshanbo New Cemetery in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim are also located in the vicinity.

[aghadowey]

"With Jim I went all around the place,
visiting the grounds of the late Major
Somebody's residence on the shore of Loch
Allen. We went along the road to the
cemetery where grandmother and dad's
brother are buried together. We did not go in
as it was then dark and Jim was not sure he
could find the grave.

I don't read it as the cemetery [graveyard] being in the grounds of the estate mentioned but that it sounds like they went on the grounds of the estate and then along the road to where the graveyard was located.

[Clemans]

Thanks to one and all!

Some useful leads to follow up!

Apologies for the confusion re Roscommon and Leitrim - my Grandfather was visiting relatives in Arigna and Seltannaveeny.

Clemans

[shanreagh]

What are the names of 'grandmother and dad's brother' and when did they die?

[Clemans]

Shanreagh,

Thanks for your interest.

I am only beginning my research, but what I know so far:

My great great grandfather was James McKenna baptized 1st October 1827 at Kilronan.
He died in 1910 and is buried at the Arigna cemetery.

His wife, the "grandmother" we are discussing, was Mary Kelly for whom I have no detail other than she was deceased by 1917 when my grandfather visited Arigna, and that she was not buried at Arigna with her husband - hence the current search for her burial site.

The person referred to as "dad's brother" could have been either of brothers James (baptized 27th March 1866 Kilronan) or Michael McKenna (baptized  26th September 1871 Kilronan).  I can eliminate brothers John and Terrence who emigrated to Australia in the late 1880's, and Stephen who was at Arigna in 1917.

Thanks again for your interest.

Clemans

[Clemans]

Shanreagh,

Just a note:

The Kilronan records has the family name as "McCanna" rather than "McKenna"

[Kiltaglassan]

My great great grandfather was James McKenna baptized 1st October 1827 at Kilronan.
He died in 1910 and is buried at the Arigna cemetery.

Is this your family's headstone in Arigna graveyard?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169783221/james-mckenna
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2024/120/169783221_7394ac09-92ce-4964-a58a-b9bacdecf6aa.jpeg

James McKenna of Seltannaveeny died 23 March 1911.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05386/4503110.pdf

Seltannaveeny townland north of Arigna village.
https://www.townlands.ie/roscommon/boyle/kilronan/lough-allenaltagowlan/seltannaveeny/