School: Birr (Mercy Convent)
- Location:
- Birr or Parsonstown, Co. Offaly
- Teacher: Sr. Flannan
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0821, Page 167
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- (continued from previous page)Over several graves imitation vaults seem to have been raised. These are only about 2 or 2 1/2 feet in height and have been built of bricks and mortar in many cases. A large flat slab bearing an inscription was then placed on top. In many cases the bricks and mortar have given way and there is a huge space between slab (which has fallen to one side) and the ground beneath. Many of the older tombstones seem to have either sunken into the ground or else in course of time debris has grown up around them so that now only about a foot of them remains overground. These older stones are only about 14 or 16 inches in width. There seems to have been no inscription on these except some large letters on the top like "S G" and then a year.In this churchyard are two big vaults one owned by the Parson family (Lord Ross) and the other by the Synge family. The vault owned by the Parsons is built of the southern wall of the old church. The entrance to the vault a huge iron door is built in the church wall. The walls of this vault seem to have been(continues on next page)
