Drumcliff Graveyard

Friends of Drumcliff Graveyard

Drumcliff graveyard, Round Tower and Church date back to the 7th Century. The aim of the Tidy Towns project is to work with our community groups in co-operation with Clare County Council to preserve and keep in a neat and tidy way this Sacred Place for prayer, natural surrounds and for the benefit of the entire community.

This section of the burial ground had been neglected over the years as it was infrequently used so nature had begun to take over. Hedges were overgrown, wild cherry blossom had spread over a wide area and ivu and briars had covered a considerable number of burial monuments.

The initial project plan was simple. To restore the graveyard to as close to its original state as possible and remove ivy, bushes and debris that has gathered and grown over the years. However, we had to be mindful of the natural flora and fauna and natural plant life in existence.

The Friends of Drumcliff Graveyard initiative was established in conjunction with Ennis Tidy Towns and Ennis Parish. A group of volunteers began to met on Saturday mornings and over the course of 9 years that have managed to cultivate a large section of the old section of the graveyard. This is a continual process and work is still ongoing in this area.

Stage two of this project will see Ennis Tidy Towns honour an area within the graveyard known locally as ” The Paupers Grave”. The Paupers Grave was the final resting place for thousands of residents from the Ennis Work House. It dates from 1840 and was in use up to the 1950’s. The proposal is for the erection of a limestone sculpture in the form of a family. This sculpture will become part of the existing sculpture trail in Ennis.In addition new cast iron fencing will replace existing surround and footpaths will be resurfaced with loose limestone chipping. New Information signage will also be put in place.

This project was developed for continual preservation and dedication to all our dead in Drumcliff Old Cemetry. We work in total co-operation with Clare County Council and adhere to best practice and conservation.

If you would like to help there is always a place for you on our team.