TomRegan Church Ballyconnell

History

The Church was originally the site of an old earthen fort which dominated the western approach to the ford of Ath Conaill on the Woodford or Graine river, and was probably occupied by a McGovern chieftain. A Catholic church was later built on the site, sometime before 1590, when it was confiscated by the Crown.
The first Protestant Rector, Martin Baxter, was appointed in November 1626. The Church was fortified in 1689 during the Williamite wars, and the remains of two diamond-shaped graves can still be seen. These were supposedly used as mass graves during famine times.

A new church was erected in 1756 and enlarged in 1820 and is still in use to-day. It is regarded as being of international architectural interest, according to An Foras Forbatha's 1977 report on Cavan buildings. An important Romanesque carving, known as the Tomregan Stone stood outside the West wall of the church for many years. It came originally from the site of the ancient parish church in Mullynagolman townland. (Tomregan Stone photo opens in a new window)

There were Catholic burials in the cemetery until St. Brigid's R.C. church opened in 1843. The oldest surviving Catholic tombstone seems to be that of Conner Reilly who died in 1732 and the oldest Protestant tombstone seems to be that of Mabel Beal who died in 1752. The last Catholic to be buried there is probably John Kiernan who died in 1840. The graveyard is much overgrown in places and may conceal other tombstones. The inscriptions may be cross-checked with the Protestant parish registers which date from 1797.
Names in alphabetical order:
Barron: 1886, Beal: 1752, Benison: 1828, Benison: 1881, 1896, 1900, 1911, Brady: 1806, Brady: 1784, Brinnan: 1816, Brooke, Revd.: 1818, Burk: 1810.
Cobean: 1842, Connly: 1818, Curry: 1754, Curry: 1783,
Davis: 1805, 1822, 1846, 1798, Donocho: 1771,
1785, Donaghoe: 1805, 1822, Doogan: 1892.
Foster: 1779, Foster: 1887, Freehile: 1830. Graham: 1802, 1870, 1873, Griffith: 1895, 1904, 1910.
Halliday: 1885, 1893, Henderson: No date, Hewitt: 1758, 1886, 1889.
Kellett Revd.: 1897, 1894, 1905, 1929, Kells: 1897, 193 1, Kells: 1897, 1899,
Keirnan: 1777, Kiernan: 1833, 1840, Kiernan: 1821. Latimer: 1862, 1883, Love: 1774.
Magahran: 1778, Magauran: 1830, Magaveran:
1805, 1812, Magawin: 1800, McDermot: 1804,
McDonald: 1814, McGregor: 1873, McKena; 1828,
Montgomery: 1810, 1826, Moore:1794, 1800,
Moore:1896, Moore: 1817, Moore: 1819, Murphy:
1774, Murphy: 1821, 1822.
Neail: 1792, Netterfield: 1905. O'Brien: 1811.
Parker: 1855, 1893, Powell; 1849, Preston: 1860. Quin: 1785, 1795.
Reily: 1732, Reily: 1793, Reilly: 1822, Reilly: 1825,
Reilly: 1780, Robinson: 1858, 1874, 1895, 1899, 1919,
1934, 1970, 1970.
Story: 1829 (daughter of John Enery of Ballyconnell House), Story: 1835, Sturdy: 1813. Whitely: 1759.

(Taken from Breifne Publication -Vol 7, No 2S.           
Ballyconnell Cemetery Inscriptions - pre 1900 by John O'Reilly.)