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Stories from beyond the grave

Thursday, 28 February 2008

LAST month was the 143rd anniversary of the opening of Deans Grange Cemetery in South Dublin and it was also the anniversary of the first burial to take place there.
Anastasia Carey worked as a servant in St Joseph’s Orphanage Dún Laoghaire (then Kingstown). She died on January 26, 1865 after contracting Typhus Fever during an epidemic and was interred two days later in the newly opened cemetery.
Local historian Jamie Moran is currently putting the finishing touches to a book which covers this and many other stories relating to those buried in the cemetery.
The book will include chapters that start with a brief overview of the cemetery and its history and why there was a need for it to be constructed in the mid-nineteenth century.
Also included will be some interesting facts about the cemetery that most people would be unaware of.
One chapter will cover the British War Graves of soldiers who died during the first and second world wars.
“When thinking of war graves you instantly picture rows of headstones in the fields of France and Belgium,” says Jamie.
“But there is a long history of Irishmen who joined the British Army and who are now buried within this cemetery’s walls. Many of these men still have families in the Dublin area and it is something they should be proud of. I think it is right that these soldiers be acknowledged.”
The 1916 Easter Rising is also covered in Jamie’s book as there were burials from both sides involved in the fighting.
Republican volunteers and British soldiers are buried side by side but there are also civilians too, young and old, who died as a result of gun shots after being caught up in the Rising.
There is a chapter detailing those who died as a result of the War of Independence (Tan War) and the Civil War though this is not limited to Republican casualties as Jamie has come across four other people who died as a direct result of the War of Independence.
“Two of these were men executed by the IRA as British agents and two civilians who were shot by the infamous Black & Tans, one of them a young girl,” he reveals.
Jamie has compiled a list of victims from three disasters which occurred in the Irish Sea. The build up to each disaster is covered but as with all those listed in the book, the main focus is on the victims themselves.
The largest chapter relates to notable people buried in Deans Grange. They come from all walks of life, as statesmen, revolutionary men and women, writers, actors, poets, inventors, or people who have an interesting background.
In all cases Jamie hopes to give as much personal information as possible. He has included their ages, where they lived, how they died and their family background.
He also believes that his publication will be a useful reference to other local historians and their work.
Jamie hopes to have the book finalised and published this summer. Before he completes his work he is asking our readers if they would contact him with any information they may have on those buried there and who are linked with the above episodes.
He also needs photos relating to the cemetery and those buried there and would be interested to talk to anyone who may have information which could make a contribution to the publication.
Anyone who wishes to talk to Jamie can contact him by email on jmoranjnr5@eircom .net or by phone on 086-0712928.

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