RO-KLBG-0109

Record Date: 
14 May 2016
Graveyard: 
Kilbegley
Exact wording of epitaph: 

LORD HAVE MERCY ON THE SOUL OF

REV. FATHER MC EVILLY

P.P. OF MOORE

DIED 22ND NOVEMBER 1856

AGED 80 YEARS

R.I.P.

ERECTED BY

THOMAS GREENE

MERCHANT BALLINASLOE

ASSISTED BY A FEW FRIENDS

Memorial Type: 
Cross
Grave location
County: 
Roscommon
Latitude: 
53.3218525
Longitude: 
-8.1434255555556
Additional details
Erected by: 
THOMAS GREENE MERCHANT BALLINASLOE ASSISTED BY A FEW FRIENDS.
Number of people commemorated: 
1
People commemorated: 
Title: 
Reverend Father
Name: 
Rev. [Walter]
Surname: 
McEvilly
Date of death - day: 
22
Date of death - month: 
November
Date of death - year: 
1856
Age: 
80
Address: 
Parish Priest of Moore 1816-1846
Notes: 

Address for this headstone is Moore. Father McEvilly was Parish Priest of Moore from 1816-1849.

Fr Walter McEvilly came from Co Mayo. He was parish priest from 1816 until 1846 when he was forced to retire due to ill health. He lived in the parish in retirement for seven years on a small allowance of £15 from the parish. He was replaced by Fr. John Charles who was administrator from 1846 until 1854. Fr John Harley was appointed Parish Priest in 1854 until 1856.

Fr Walter McEvilly died on the 22nd November 1856

After this headstone was erected in Kilbegly, The Roscommon Journal reported the following in its publication dated 22 April 1899: 

Magnificent Art Memorial

Last week Mr John Beegan (senior), Dunlo Hill, Ballinasloe, completed to order the magnificent monument of the memory of the late Father McEvilly, P.P., of Moore, cousin of the Most Rev. Dr. McEvilly. The work, which has been erected in Kilbegley graveyard, is a most artistic and highly finished specimen of monumental art, and has drawn forth from those who have inspected, it the most unqualified of warm ?(word illegible). Consisting of three champered bases, with die and cross, it stands fully nine feet high; and the superb manner in which the body and details of the work were done command admiration. A raised scroll, richly carved, bears the following inscription: ......Besides this ornamental scrool, a  stole is characteristically pourtrayed in chisel-work of splendid description, and the style of the ?, which are allowed to rest against the champer of the die and fall down the sides, are really artistic. Upon the stole is carved, in the same stone, a faithful representation of  a breviary, together with a Latin Cross, which surmounts it. On the foot of the cross is traced in chaste and exquisite out-lines a chalice and Host, and, viewed from any point, the monument is perfect. The outlines are classic, the appearance imposing, and the design replete in conception and harmony of detail. It is pleasing to note that  a local gentleman, in the person of Mr. John L. Beegan, jur, U.D.C., must be credited with both the design and the workmanship. His exhitbits at the Irish Exhibition in London in 1888 gained for him at a very early age much praise, and it is not surprising to find that, encouraged by his many patrons, he had decided to exhibit in the fine art section of the forthcoming great Paris Exhibition - "Star."

Thomas Greene Merchant Ballinasloe is buried in Kilbegly (see headstone no.184 ).