That this patron saint of seafarers has found devotees in Ireland’s biggest fishing port is no surprise
St, Catherine’s Well, Killybegs
But that St Catherine hailed from Egypt, is both unusual and topical, with that country currently so heavily troubled.
She lived in Alexandria in early 300 AD. How she came to be venerated in Killybegs is not exactly clear – but scholars think that this Coptic connection was brought to the western sea front by Egyptian monks via Spain.
Hidden in woodland close to St. Catherine’s Well – and in dire need of rescue – is her church.
St. Catherine’s Church
Built in the 1400’s – possibly by Mac Swiney Bannaght – for the Franciscan Third Order, who enjoyed expansion in the north-west of Ireland at that time
But within living memory – a roofless shell
With trees that took root & tear the fabric of the church apart
Rónan Crehan & Kieran Keeney
At such times you need a couple of heroes
With a couple of good stones in their mixer
To pound the Lime that shall rebuild this important graveyard wall
Indeed it is the heroic work of the Donegal Historical Society who raised funds to begin the daunting task of saving St. Catherine’s Church
The nave and chancel
To which many additions and alterations were carried out through the ages
This gothic door has helped date the site as being of fifteenth century character. Only the top of the door is now visible, due to ground leve raised by four hundred years of burials
Heritage Officer Hugh Boyle, at the entrance to the C16th transept
Characteristic of the C16th, these heavy punch-marks identify the arch and transept as being of that time, as opposed to when earlier punch-marks were lighter, and later C17th punch-marks are heavier yet in style
The C16th was a time of inter-clan skirmishes typical of Gaelic Ireland and was followed by constant battle between the Chieftain Clans and Elizabeth of England
Hugh Boyle with his class of students have already carefully documented the contents of the graveyard and he shows me the earliest surviving gravestone on the site
The head stone of John Linsey
While the jury is out on how exactly these organic whirl patterns are weathered onto ancient lime render?
Still beneath blameless angels our ancestors do sleep
Greenlaw crest with deer – carved by Patrick Quinn in the mines of Drumkeelan
Patrick Finison’s tomb – the Provost of the Corporation of Killybegs – 1702
In the scheme of ‘things’ – this corner of the earth has only very lately been at peace
Thoughts are with those who are currently caught in struggle, the likes of which this corner has witnessed repetitively, hard though it is to imagine from within the quiet embrace of St. Catherine’s graveyard wall.
limewindow 
I admire everyones great dedication to rebuild the history on the island… Tell everyone HI!
There is so much history, sometimes it is hard to know where to even start – but thanks for your encouragement!
I am a big fan from southern Texas,USA with a small project using lime plaster on an old stone cottage in northern Mexico.My progress was halted by drug wars but your lovely blog keeps my interest engaged.Muchos Gracias! Krysti Buckley
Thanks for your interest Krysti and really hope you can get back to your cottage before too long.
Rocks and lime mortar can be hard work but there`s nothing tougher than fighting trees and their roots. Well Holly trees in my garden anyway . Lovely site this .
By the way I have bought a large house with lime plaster walls inside and –nobody told me they go hollow. I have to drill holes and glue the bricks and plaster together .
Trees do fierce damage to old buildings, but ivy is the worst culprit, and needs to be carefully removed, never pulled away causing further rupture. Sounds like the mortar in your house walls may have subsided in places? There is a special syringe-like tool for injecting mortar into wall holes.
Your photo essays are becoming real works of art. Brilliant expostion and portrayals of the salient points.
After a failed attempt to conquer the enchanted land near Raithlin O Byrne, on the floor of young Mc Sweeny’s boat was a ram’s horn. It hung in St. Catherine’s church –
‘where it remained till a period not very remote, and was constantly referred to as furnishing ocular evidence of the reality of Hy-breasail; the enchanted land.’
(From McGinley’s ‘The Cliff Scenery of Southwest Donegal’ 1867)
I searched for the horn. Now that really would’ve completed the story.
Marvelous photos. Finding a new post in my inbox is always cause for excitement.
Thank you. My feeling is that if the day ever comes when it is a chore to write it, that shall be the day to give it up.
Wonderful history and beautiful sculptures there. The angel is my fave.
My ancestors in the early days of Killybegs were Alexander Greenlaw and Patrick Finison whose stones are shown in your wonderful post. Those two families married into the Hamiltons, and Margaret Hamilton married William Devitt Their son, also William, my great grandfather, emigrated to Philadelphia in 1871 with his new wife. This the first time I have seen reference to the Greenlaw stone being carved by Patrick Quinn from Drumkeelan, and wondering where you sourced this information, as any information from these early years is very scarce.
Hello and thanks for your query re the source of information for this article. Detailed historical and archaelogical research of the site has been carried out over a seven year period by a group of participants of the FÁS Community Response Team set up in 2001, funded by The Heritage Council and Donegal County Council. The results have been published in a delightful small book called ‘St Catherine’s Church and Graveyard and the Medievil Town of Killybegs’ published in 2008.
This contains a precise record of the graveyard including the exact locations of the stones with scale drawings and inscriptions, as well as mason’s marks.
Patrick Quinn, a stonemason at the mines of Drumkeelan, carved the Greenlaw memorial in 1902, which is typical of his style. He had a passion for botany, wildflowers and foliage, a theme which he would incorporate in most of his work. Local historian and keeper of the mines at Drumkeelan, Eamonn Monagahan, is quoted as being the source for information on Patrick Quinn.
Exact inscriptions on the Greenlaw (first one undated) stones are as follows.
(1)
”This tomb was erected
by Robert G
Reenlaw for his fat
her Alexander who de
parted this life Feb 26th
Aged 46”
(11)
”In memory of
A.R Greenlaw
The only beloved son of
Aaron and Susanna
Greenlaw who Fell Asleep
in Jesus in the
22nd year of his age
December 18th 1902
Castlereagh”
p.s The tomb for Patrick Finison (depicted in the post with carved ship) is from 1703 and probably represents the Corporation of Killybegs, as he was Provost.
Fabulous pictures.So glad to see the restoration of the church.So much of our Greenlaw,s history comes from there
Great to see family from all over the world take an interest in their ancestory – the Greenlaws were a prominent family in the area and their family crest shows a stag’s head – other fine examples include the Nesbitt and Hamilton tombs.
There are still Greenlaws living in Killybegs
I recently found my GGGG Grandfather buried here. James Carr born 1777 died April 18, 1847. My mother and father had been searching for his grave for probably 20+ years. I have yet to see a photo of his headstone though. I believe that soon after his death, his wife, 3 sons, and daughter immigrated to the United States. We are looking forward to learning more about Killybegs and St. Catherine’s Church restorations. Someday I hope to visit! Amazing work! Also, do you know where I would find information about his children’s births in Killybegs? Thanks for any information you could possible give me to point me in the right direction.