Monumental Inscriptions
The following is an index to transcriptions of Donegal graveyards, which form part of the Donegal Genealogy Resources Website
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Monumental (or Headstone) inscriptions are a very useful source of information on dates of birth and death, and also on family relationships. In rural areas it was common practice for generations of the same family to be buried in the same part of the graveyard, and thus information on several generations can he derived from the gravestones where they exist. In poorer areas these were often unmarked graves, although gravestones were sometimes erected by later generations. Fortuitously some gravestones may note previous generations but this is not always the case.
Catholics were sometimes buried in Church of Ireland graveyards and a record could exist in the burial register. Specific Catholic graveyards were started mainly in the 19th century although the local church may not have burial registers until the 20th century. An account of the complicated history of denominational graveyards is given in Irish Church Records (Ryan 1992). (see p. 85)
Some graveyards may be found in apparently isolated locations, since many were attached to ancient monastic sites. Alternatively the attached church may have been abandoned or fallen into ruin. If the present parish church gravestones appear fairly recent it is worth asking local people if an old graveyard exists in the parish.
Gravestones in some graveyards may have already been transcribed or indexed and thus a lot of time and effort can be saved which would have be expended visiting the graveyards in person. However, the majority of graveyards have not. The transcribed gravestones are available in a variety sources, particularly local history journals. However, there is one major collection which is always worth consulting. This is the Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead.
These journals were published in the period 1888-1934 and contain gravestone inscriptions and other information. These were mainly contributed by individuals, and vary from single interesting inscriptions to full graveyard surveys, and occasionally abstracts of other church records. They tended to cover Church of Ireland graveyards, however other denominations could also be buried in these graveyards and may also be recorded. The Journal is indexed by name in various series. (Note: The Journal is available at some major libraries and I also found a set/various volumes for sale through bibliofind.com - for $500 US!)
Online Inscriptions:
Assaroe Graveyard (Ballyshannon)
Gartan Graveyard (Gartan)
Drung Graveyard (partial)
Finner (Bundoran)
Glenswilly (partial)
Gortahork (partial)
Magheragallon Old Graveyard (Tullaghobegley)
Malin Presbyterian Church Graveyard
Moville Presbyterian & Church of Ireland Cemeteries (partial)
St Anne's (Ballyshannon)
St Columba's (Termon) (partial)
St Mary's (Kincasslagh) (partial)
St Patrick's, Iskaheen (partial)
Templedouglas (partial)
Termon (Dungloe, Templecrone) (1 headstone)
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