Monagea Community Burial Ground and Mahoonagh Beg Burial Ground, Castlemahon have been selected the overall winners in the Burial Ground Awards for 2017.
The announcement was made at a gala ceremony at the Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel in Adare, where the winners were announced in the Modern and Ancient categories.
The awards are divided into two categories, ancient and modern, with individual winners selected for the four areas of Annacotty, Kilmallock, Rathkeale/ Adare and Newcastle West.
This year’s winners of both categories come from the Newcastle West area.
Voluntary parish committees, community councils, groups and individuals from across Limerick participated in the 10th annual awards scheme, which is organised by the Community Support Services department of Limerick City and County Council.
Speaking at the gala ceremony, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Stephen Keary congratulated all the nominees and said: “Everyone is deeply thankful for the time and effort that you all spend in the upkeep of the burial grounds.”
“I want to pay tribute to the communities, burial ground committees, burial ground caretakers and parish councils who look after the upkeep and maintenance of Limerick's 250 cemeteries and especially the winners Monagea and Mahoonagh.”
“Thank you very much for your work. It is really appreciated.”
Gordon Daly, Director of Services with Limerick City and County Council said: “The provision and upkeep of our county’s burial grounds is one of the best examples of the local authority working in partnership with communities and on behalf of the management of the Council, I would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved.
“I want to express our thanks to all the committees represented tonight. Your hard work is greatly appreciated and it is just one of the many ways that you contribute to your communities on a voluntary basis.”
“I also want to acknowledge the assistance of Limerick Civic Trust and the two local development companies – Ballyhoura and West Limerick Resources who run the Rural Social Scheme Programme. The workers on these schemes along with TUS and Community Employment Schemes play an important role in the maintenance of our graveyards and also the historic monuments contained within them.”
“Some of these workers have been trained for example in skills such as the use of lime mortar thus ensuring that works have been carried out in accordance with best conservation practice and more importantly that these skills are being retained to pass on in the future.”
The guest speaker this year was Mary Kury who spoke about historic graves from a community perspective.
Burial Grounds Awards Modern Category:
Overall Winner: Monagea Community Burial Ground
Annacotty
- 1st: St. Columbas’ Burial Ground, Pallasgreen
- 2nd: Kilkeedy Burial Ground, Ballybrown
- 3rd : Crecora New Burial Ground
Kilmallock
- 1st: Grange Burial Ground, Bruff, Kilmallock
- 2nd: St Mary’s Burial Ground, Meanus
- 3rd: Glenroe Burial Ground
Rathkeale/ Adare
- 1st: Beagh Burial Ground, Ballysteen, Askeaton
- 2nd: Granagh Burial Ground
- 3rd: Kilcolman West Burial Ground, Kilcolman
Newcastle West
- 1st: Monagea Community Burial Ground
- 2nd: Holy Cross Burial Ground, Athea
- 3rd: Dromcollogher Burial Ground
Burial Grounds Awards Ancient Category:
Overall Winner: Mahoonagh Beg Burial Ground, Castlemahon
Annacotty
- 1st: Mungret Abbey, Mungret
- 2nd: Kileenagarriff Burial Ground
- 3rd: Donaghmore Burial Ground
Kilmallock
- 1st: Darraghmore Burial Ground, Glenroe
- 2nd: Bruree Old Burial Ground
- 3rd: Kilquane Burial Ground, Effin
Rathkeale/ Adare
- 1st: Clonagh Burial Ground, Rathkeale
- 2nd: Moig East Glebe Burial Ground, Castletown, Pallaskenry
- 3rd: Kilmoylan Burial Ground, Shanagolden
Newcastle West
- 1st: Mahoonagh Beg Burial Ground, Castlemahon
- 2nd: Killoughlehane Burial Ground, Broadford
- 3rd: St. Ita’s Burial Ground, Kileedy