Scott, == One cemetery that I did not visit is one that is indicated on my 'Discovery Series' Map as being on the shore of Muckno Lough in Church Hill. ?I drove by that area but I did not see a way to get to the cemetery without crossing private property. ?I was wondering if anyone is familiar with this graveyard? ?Is it worth a visit on my next trip? ?Is it a Catholic or Protestant cemetery? ?Any info is welcome. == The Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan (from 1986, before they really started publishing detailed information in their county AI books) has a bit to say about the site, which is listed as a Church (in ruins). "On site of pre-Reformation church (Leslie 1929, 289). Situated in subcircular cemetery." That's about it. In more recent publications, the archaeologists have commented on the ages of the oldest, as well as the newest gravemarkers in the graveyards - but not in this 1986 book. The Leslie reference is to the book "Clogher Clergy and Parishes", published in 1929 in Enniskillen. This site goes back to the early Irish monastery period....probably sixth-century. I won't bore you with the early history, but the site was known as Muckno and, later on - in the seventeenth century - it was claimed by the Augustinian Friars. There is a chance that burials continued after that, as the site is "hallowed ground" and the nearby residents usually chose such locations for burials. I don't know if the burial ground is still being used or not. But if it is, I believe there is an Irish law which prevents landowners from denying access to an active cemetery to friends and family members for visitation. Perhaps someone with more knowledge about this can comment on such a law? Pete .............................................................................. ... Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts

Pete, Thank you so much for this history.  Sounds like it would be worth a visit next time that I am there. Scott On Jul 23, 2008, at 5:19:23 AM, [email protected] wrote: The Archaeological Inventory of County Monaghan (from 1986, before they really started publishing detailed information in their county AI books) has a bit to say about the site, which is listed as a Church (in ruins). "On site of pre-Reformation church (Leslie 1929, 289). Situated in subcircular cemetery." That's about it. In more recent publications, the archaeologists have commented on the ages of the oldest, as well as the newest gravemarkers in the graveyards - but not in this 1986 book. The Leslie reference is to the book "Clogher Clergy and Parishes", published in 1929 in Enniskillen. This site goes back to the early Irish monastery period....probably sixth-century. I won't bore you with the early history, but the site was known as Muckno and, later on - in the seventeenth century - it was claimed by the Augustinian Friars. There is a chance that burials continued after that, as the site is "hallowed ground" and the nearby residents usually chose such locations for burials. I don't know if the burial ground is still being used or not. But if it is, I believe there is an Irish law which prevents landowners from denying access to an active cemetery to friends and family members for visitation. Perhaps someone with more knowledge about this can comment on such a law? Pete