Page 19 - Leaflet-A4_FINALv3

Like all grave yards there are some Leacy brothers (13.6) were laid to rest
very tragic stories to be told and in
in Preban but during the recording of
The Burial Record Preban some deserve special mention. the graves it came to light that John
Byrne (5.4) was laid to rest here also
1798 Graves which is a remarkable discovery. Both

During the 1798 rebellion the of the graves record the deaths as
on the 21st June 1798 . It was also
Once the graveyard had been cleaned up and vegetation removed the next task Leacy brothers, Philip aged 22 and possible to identify the stone mason

was to record the all of the graves and to copy, as far as possible the inscriptions Patrick aged 20, were part of the who sculpted both headstones as Matt
on the headstones. A number of the headstones dated back to the 1740’s and rebel force at the battle of Vinegar Gorman, a stone mason from Wexford.
1750’s. The oldest one so far was dated 1738 and there are numerous graves Hill on 21st June. The rebels were
with no inscriptions at all where the graves are marked by a simple stone. Some seriously outnumbered at the battle The Mulhall Family 1867
of the inscriptions were quite difficult to read and in several cases quite a few and it was decided that retreat
visits were made in order to finish the copy. It became clear in the course of this was the preferable option. Most of The Mulhall family lived in a small

exercise that morning sunlight was very helpful for the task. those involved returned to Wexford cottage in the hills above Askinagap.
but some, including the Leacys James Mulhall aged 32, his wife Kate

It was possible to read the inscriptions on 144 graves and the names of 327 returned to County Wicklow. The (nee Grady) aged 28 and their four
people. The breakdown was 202 men and 118 women. Seven Christian names Leacy group consisted of six men; children, Brian aged 7, Peter aged 5,
could not be identified. two sets of brothers from the parish Mary aged 3, and baby James aged
of Crossbridge the Laceys and the 14 days. In early 1867 there was a

Of the 288 people identified Goslins, a Dalton from Kyle and Byrne. very heavy snowfall in the locality.
On the night of March 23rd 1867, as
The most common surnames were; They succeeded in reaching the the family slept, the melting snow

Byrne 72 neighbourhood of Ballinglen, on caused an avalanche which swept
Kavanagh 27 ( including Kavanah and Cavanagh) the “main road” between Tinahely all before it including the cottage
O’Toole 27 ( including Toole ) and Aughrim. As they were nearing and the sleeping, unsuspecting
Birthistle 13 home and as the country around family inside. All six members of the

Davis 10 Tinahely, Shillelagh and Aughrim was unfortunate family perished. The
Malone 10 ( including Mlone ) being patrolled by Lord Fitzwilliam’s cause of death recorded in each case
Graham 8 yeomanary and as they were most was “Accidently smothered in bed by
likely very tired following their trek an avalanche”.

The most common Christian names recorded were; from Enniscorthy, they took refuge at
a bridge near Ballinglen, intending, In 1993 the community in
Men (202) Women (118) no doubt, to finish their journey Askinagap uncovered the remains
James 34 Mary 24 under the friendly darkness of the of the cottage and in the cleanup of
John 26 Margaret 16 short mid summers’ night. A lone the site discovered several items of

Thomas 15 Catherine 13 mounted Yeoman met them on the interest that would have been the
Patrick 15 Elizabeth 11 road and the brothers recognised property of the Mulhall family. They
Michael 13 Bridget 8 him as a neighbour. He advised them erected a plaque at the site and a
William 11 Annie 8 ( including Ann ) to lie low for some time. However, he headstone in Preban Graveyard in
Charles 6 Sarah 5 reported the encounter to his superior memory of the family.
Peter 6 Dorothy 4 officer who had the rebels surrounded

Richard 6 immediately. All six were executed on
Matthew 6 the spot. It was well known that the

16 17