Eleanor, I only wish I was connected to your family. Even though I'm not, however, I really am encouraged by your willingness to help others and the knowledge that work is being done to preserve what remain of the old graves. A gravestone for someone who lived from about 1714 to 1796 is to be appreciated, whether it's your family or not. Of course, I live in the U.S., where 1796 would be a rarity among surviving gravestones. Settlers used whatever stone was available, and here in Pennsylvania, unfortunately, that often meant limestone. The settlers may not have known how quickly limestone erodes, and there are countless stones of that sort where the inscription is barely even visible, much less recognizable. I am curious about the fleu-de-lis. It of course has been a French symbol from ancient times, but it was also used on compasses for many centuries. Perhaps John McElhinny was a mariner. "Old genealogists never die. They just lose their census." Loretta -----Original Message----- From: irl-co-donegal-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-co-donegal-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Eleanor Wright Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 17:41 To: hiflyte; IRL-CO-Donegal; IRL-Donegal - List; IRL-Donegaleire-L Subject: Re: [IRL-CO-DONEGAL] [DONEGALEIRE] Mevagh Church Graveyard - CtyDonegal Hi All Mevagh Church Graveyard is just cross the burn from my farm my grandmother Catherine McElhinney was born. The house is still there although sold. I visit there every September to relatives in the area. I agree ih Maureen the people of Ireland did not alway have to put up a "Fancy" stone to remember their dead. In fact I used to play in this graveyard as a child and it was then full of the old headstone - I just wished I had written them all down then. One of the McBride men and a few others are keeping the graveyard in better condition now as a project and many thanks to them for that. However the oldest stone in the graveyard is a John McElhinny dated 1796 at the age of 82 and his wife. I reckon they are probably our original McElhinney's but at the moment cannot prove it. It is a large slab with a fleur de lieu (probably not spelt right) at the bottom of the stone. It is over on the left of the graveyard about half way down where I understand some of our McElhinney's were buried but the slab has now been damaged and the name McGee scratched onto it and used as a covering stone for their grave. Just goes to show that recycling still goes on. Anyway I have transcribed some of the graves so it I have any more information and anyone wants it you are welcome to email me. If you are looking to find it take the road out of Carrigart towards Dowings and at the turn in the road head straight on up the hill onto the Altantic Drive. You will come to a pub known as "The Singing Pub" and just across from this is the narrow road that leads down to the graveyard and ruins of the old church. Again someone was asking about Doe Castle graves. I have most of them written down as a lot of my extended family tree are in it such as the Speers, Moores etc. Again anyone wanting to know more about who is buried in there can contact me and I would love to make another connection. By the way both graves have always buried both religions in it and the majority in Doe are protestant. Space is always at a premiem and I understand it is only existing families that are allowed to bury there now. Regards and hope to contact someone with an interest. Eleanor Wright Researching McElhinney, Hay, Speer, Moore, Wilson and more.