Archbishop unveils graveyard plaque to Limerick nun and her brother

ORGANISERS of the blessing of St Anthony’s graveyard in Oola had God on their side.

The ceremony and plaque unveiling by Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Kieran O’Reilly was in doubt as the effects of Storm Callum were felt.

Chairman of St Anthony’s graveyard, Joe Meagher said the “man above looked after us as it was lovely and came at 3pm”. But it was a sister of mercy and her brother, Sr Anthony Hayes and Timmy Hayes who looked after them over a decade ago. They gave three acres of prime agricultural land in Prospect for the graveyard.

“Sr Anthony Hayes had a great veneration for the parish and the people of Oola. Her brother Timmy was a great farmer and a great GAA man. Their farm subsequently made over €900,000 and Sr Anthony Hayes gave one third to the parish of Oola, one third to the parish in Doon and one third to the convent in Doon. She was an incredible lady,” said Mr Meagher, a former county councillor.

To recognise the brother and sister’s generosity, Mr Meagher and his fellow committee members commissioned a plaque unveiled by Archbishop O’Reilly in the presence of Fr John Morris, parish priest, Canon Liam McNamara, Tipperary Town and Fr Thomas Breen, Ballylanders.

The donation of the land was just the beginning of a long and sustained effort to create the impressive environment that exists today. The graveyard stands as proof of what can be achieved by a small team with a vision and drive to make things happen.

The original committee of Mr Meagher, Thomas Landers, Paddy Ryan, Michael Barragry, Michael O’Brien, Jimmy Ryan, Fr Morris, late John Joe Dunne put their heart and soul in to ensuring St Anthony’s will be there for future generations.

“All the work was done by voluntary labour over the years. Paddy Ryan and Jimmy Ryan laid all the screeds for the foundations and the footpath and did all the bits and pieces. Michael Barragry and Michael O’Brien mixed all the concrete and all the mortar for the blocks for the wall. Thomas Landers did all the planning and laying out of the graveyard. There will be a plaque erected to each and everyone who helped out in any way,” said Mr Meagher.

Over €140,000 has been spent on the graveyard, opened in 2008. Around €60,000 has been got from council and State funding. 

“All the money we get from the sales of the graves goes in to paying off the debt. In a lot of places they won’t sell them until you die. We have 1,500 spaces,” said Mr Meagher, who also thanked Cllr Eddie Ryan for his assistance in sourcing funding and getting concrete from the council to build a roadway so that hearses can get to the top of the graveyard.

“It was a massive community effort,” said Cllr Ryan. “I was down on a few Saturdays following up with the council on concrete for them and they had up to 14 people laying concrete,” he continued.

But Cllr Ryan said none of this would have been possible only for Sr Anthony Hayes and Timmy Hayes.