In this visit
to St Lurach’s graveyard in Maghera, John
Gregg spoke to William
Roulston of
the Ulster Historical Foundation,
Fr. John Walsh,
George Shiels,
Mildred Moore,
Sammy Hamilton &
Rev. Robert Miller
This site was actually home to a Cathedral
before it was moved to Derry. The Cathedral was here
from the
middle
of the 12th
Century until the middle of the 13th. It’s
believed that there was a church founded here in
the 6th Century by Saint Lurach (or
Lowry). It continued in use until 1819 when the new
Church of Ireland was built just
across the road. The present day ruins are actually
from various periods. Some of them date back to
the early Christian
period and others, such as the tower, date to the
17th or 18th Century. This is therefore a very ancient
and historically colourful site.
Once inside this graveyard you realise just how
large it is. Most of the headstones and memorials
are of a simple nature and there aren’t the
large Mausolea that are to be found elsewhere in
the other graveyards we’ve visited (such as
Drumbeg). There isn’t a large number of headstones
commemorating the grand landed families or influential
figures in society. This graveyard has been used
by all denominations. Although it’s uncertain
just when the last burial took place here, this burial
place certainly hasn’t been used very much
within the past 80 years.
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Stone at St.Lurach's
grave
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There is a stone here which is said to be
the memorial to St. Lurach himself. This is
believed to be his last resting place. If it’s
true then this a stone dates back to the 6th
Century.
George Shiels describes
this headstone and notes that if you stand
well back from it you can just about see
the outline of a Celtic
cross.
He tells us the tale of how this grave
was plundered
by two Englishmen in 1829. At that time, Magistrate Clark took out a deposition
from various witnesses to that incident and
had it recorded
for posterity. |
Copy of deposition
made by Alexander Hibson, regarding the opening of
St. Lowry’s grave made before J.J. Clark, JP,
on 29th January 1865.
I
Alexander Hibson, carpenter, from Maghera
in the County of Londonderry, do solemnly
and
sincerely declare that on or about the year
1829, I was in employment of the Rev James
Spencer
Knox, rector of the Parish of Maghera.
One
morning, having occasion to pass through
the old graveyard
on my way from the Glebe house to the town
of Maghera to buy nails, I met two persons
dressed
like gentlemen. One of them had a paper in
his hands on which there was writing.
He asked me
if I was a native of the town. I said I was.
He then inquired if there was a grave in
the church yard in which Saint Lowry was
buried,
I said yes I’d often heard of it.
I
then went to Harry Porter the nailer, got
the nails
and returned through the graveyard and
there found the two gentlemen filling up
a hole in
the grave. On the grass there was a handkerchief
spread out. A blast of wind blew it up
and I saw underneath it a cross. The gentlemen
then
left.
I
began to think I should tell Mr Knox. He
immediately sent me to the hotel
kept by Mr
Falls to enquire about the men who had
taken the cross. He said that they had
gone some time,
but whether to Moneymore or Magherafelt
he could not say.
Mr
Knox told me afterwards that he had
reason to believe that they’d gone to
Dungiven and that Mr Falls had misled them. |
Mildred Moore says that there is supposed to be
a tunnel that runs from the north side of the church
right
through the graveyard, passing close by the Saint’s
grave and up into the town at the point of St. Lurach’s
well. Its purpose was to connect the church with
the well. Mildred tells us that there was once an
interesting room found within the tunnel. When the
foundations were being dug for the new Presbyterian
church, a workman’s shovel fell down into a
cavity. When this was investigated they found a subterranean
room. In that room was discovered a wooden watering
can, a book and the remnants of an old turf fire.
Clearly the room has been occupied at some time.
When that was no-one yet knows.
Your Responses
Barbara Trott - Aug '08
I have been looking for a Hibson Family in the Londonderry
area.
My Great-Great Granmother was Elizabeth Hibson she
was married to an Alexander McCune (McEwen) on 16
Feb 1854 the minister was Wm. Knox in Minthen, Londonderry,
Ireland.
When I first read this I was in hopes that maybe
I had finally located the Minister or a Relative of
Elizabeth Hibson McEwen.
Elizabeth's mother's name was Mary Hibson, I don't
have the Elizabeth's father's name. Mary Hibson was
buried in New York State, USA in 1873 she had been
born in 1796.
If anyone has any information about Rev. William
Knox or Elizabeth Hibson McCune's Family I would be
very thankful for any information.
The only information I have came from Alexander McCune's
Civil War Pension Record. The Family name in the US
is written McEwen, I don't know when the change came
to be or if the McCune spelling was an error.
Edward D. Convery- February '08
Thank you for this very interesting and informative
presentation. Too bad there aren't pictures of the
structures. I found this in searching for my Convery
family history. Apparently my family lived in Maghera
in the 1700 and 1800. Some of them left for Scotland
during the Great Famine and, eventually, ended up
in Canada and the USA. Thanks again.
Bev Cooper -Apr '07
I was fascinated to read the article concerning
the Rev Spencer Knox as i have found out that he
is a relative of mine.
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