Marble and Stone Memorials

In this series we will take a look at a selection of grave memorials erected in the cemeteries of St Mary’s Parish Church, St Mary’s Church of Ireland, St Augustine’s and Abbeyside Church.

These are large stone or marble monuments to the clergy, merchants, and gentry of Dungarvan and district.  In the late 19th century Celtic crosses became very fashionable with elaborate interlacing.  These were inspired by the Celtic Revival.

The memorials are not all by local carvers and are executed by masons in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Liverpool etc.  Not all are marked with the maker’s name.  A local stone carver in the 19th century was John Atkins.  Patrick Molloy established his business in 1892 in Kilkenny city, Callan and Dungarvan.  There are many memorials by him in Dungarvan, including that to Edmond Power in the Town Park.  There are memorials by other firms such as: Burnell & Co, Dublin; Farrell & Son, Glasnevin; J. Collins, Waterford; and T. H. Dennamy, Marble Woks, Glasnevin.  It is important to make a visual record of these as we take their preservation for granted.  Age, weather and other threats means that many of them are now showing signs of wear and damage.  An example is one of the most impressive and elegant memorials which can be found in St Mary’s Parish church.  It Commemorates the Cody family and was badly damaged in 2019 when the top section collapsed.  It is one of the rare instances where we have a newspaper account of when it was constructed and who carved it.

The website www.historicgraves.com is a valuable resource for looking up grave memorials in Co Waterford and around Ireland as it also includes a photograph of every monument listed.

Ussher family memorial

Ussher family memorial, St. Mary's Church of Ireland











This monument in the shape of an obelisk was carved by Hastings of Anfield, Liverpool and commemorates the Ussher family of Canty House.  Related surnames also listed include Musgrave and Hearne.



Fosberry Evans Celtic Cross, St. Mary's Church of Ireland

Fosberry Evans Celtic Cross



This Celtic cross was erected in 1895 to commemorate William Fosberry Evans who was the manager of the National Bank in Dungarvan.  He died on 23 March 1895 aged 64 and his wife Mary H. died in 1901.


Celtic Cross, St. Augustine's, Friary St.

This cross commemorates Michael Power ‘donor to the church’.  He was a native of Tramore who had emigrated to Australia and eventually retired to live in Dungarvan where he resided with the mother of Bishop James Vincent Cleary in Main Street.  He donated vestments, church furnishings and a chalice to the Friary. In 1884 he paid the Marquis of Waterford for the ground on which the church stood.  He is the only lay person buried in the grounds of the church


Celtic Cross Rev Landy


This marble Celtic cross at St Augustine's church commemorates Rev Vincent Landy, O.S.A. who died in 1902 aged 39.  It was carved by Molloy of Callan & Dungarvan.