In PIctures: Ballingarry and St Nessan’s claim top prizes at Limerick Burial Ground awards

THE THIRTEENTH annual Limerick Burial Grounds awards were presented recently at a ceremony at the Millennium Centre in Caherconlish.

Mayor of the city and county of Limerick, Cllr Francis Foley, was among the more than 100 people who attended the first in-person awards ceremony since 2019.

The overall winner in the 'Ancient' category was the Ballingarry Old Burial Ground while the overall winner in the 'Modern' Category was St. Nessan’s Burial Ground, Mungret.  

Commending all of the award winners, Cllr Francis Foley said: “This is the 13h annual Burial Grounds Awards and I’m delighted that we are back up and running since the hiatus imposed on us due to Covid-19. Limerick City and County Council is very thankful for the hard work and commitment of groups and associations as well as individuals across Limerick who, day in day out, week in week out maintain their local burial grounds.

"Everyone is deeply thankful for the time and effort that you all spend in the upkeep of the burial grounds”

The evening also featured presentations by Emer O’Regan, Ballingarry Development Association, on works undertaken by the group in rehabilitating the grounds of Ballingarry Old Burial Ground and restoring two mausolea in the burial ground and from Sarah McCutcheon, Archaeologist, on streams of funding utilised by Limerick City and County Council in repairing/rehabilitating historic structures. 

WATCH: Locals turn out in force to support conservation works in Limerick village

Full list of award winners

Modern category

Metropolitian District: St. Nessan’s, Mungret (1st) 

Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District: Kilcornan Burial Ground (1st); Shanagolden New Burial Ground (2nd); Ballingrane Burial Ground (Embury Heck) (3rd). 

Cappamore/Kilmallock Municipal District: Athlacca Burial Ground (1st); Caherconlish Burial Ground (Extension 1) (2nd); Kilfinane Burial Ground (3rd); St. Columba’s Burial Ground, Pallasgreen (4th).  

Newcastle West Municipal District: Dromcollogher Burial Ground (1st); Kinard Burial Ground, Glin (2nd); Ardagh Burial Ground (3rd).

Ancient category

Metropolitan District: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick (1st)  

Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District: Ballingarry Old Burial Ground (1st); Knockpatrick Burial Ground (2nd); Kilbradran Burial Ground (3rd).  

Cappamore/Kilmallock Municipal District: Glenlary (Auraclaw) Burial Ground (1st); Tankardstown Burial Ground (2nd); Old Pallas Burial Ground (3rd); St. Fintan’s Burial Ground, Doon (4th). 

Newcastle West Municipal District: Kilmeedy Burial Ground (1st); The Square Burial Ground, Abbeyfeale (2nd); St. David’s Burial Ground, Churchtown, Newcastle West (3rd).