Tullyrusk  Co. Antrim

Any sign of the  Village of Tullyrusk sadly has almost totally disappeared but the ancient graveyard and the ruins of an acient Catholic Chapel is still to be seen, a precious heritage port of call for those looking for their geneology, a Chapel has stood in this area for over 1,000 years, centuries before the planters came, yet the "Northern Ireland Tourist Board" let alone not making tourists aware that it and many more such historic sites, such as Laloo, and Carmavy etc,  exists, perhaps we need an "Irish Tourist Board", alongside the "N.I" one in Donegall Place, because that Irish heritage seems to be forgotton, or being deliberately passed over, Presently I am preparing lists of places that merit a visit  that will open peoples eyes as to how our Irish Heritage is being brushed under the carpet in this region of Ireland some call "Northern Ireland"... don't let anyone kid you that our Irish Heritage starts and ends in the British political constituency  of "West Belfast", that is purely a name given to a modern Catholic ghetto, a kind of "Soweta", and even then Tourists, and more bewilderingly, LOCAL people!!,  are being brought to the City Cemetery to be shown the graves of the 'great and the good' of the planter stock ?..if this is not checked then it is only a matter of time until the Irish demension of our heritage and culture will be replaced by a Scottish/English identity, it kinda of reminds you of that other song , written by Peadar Kearney, who wrote the Irish National Anthen, "We want to be English when we die.".

In the ancient graveyard of Tullyrusk there is a very interesting grave  it is  the grave of Patrick Magee aged 52 who shot dead by marauding yeomen following the 1798 Rebellion. On the 29th June 1798 Patrick was standing at the door of his home smoking his pipe when he was murdered, he fell in the door and lay bleeding on the floor. It is said the blood splattered floor slab was used to make his headstone. For many years after his burial people spoke of seeing the headstone weep blood, His wife Jane later joined him in the grave. Just along the wall behind Patrick’s grave it is said four United Irishmen are buried. The ruins of the ancient Chapel can be seen at Tullyrush Graveyeard to this very day.

There is much folklore and magic in those hills overlooking Belfast, the Magnetic Hill, the Head of The Water, The Giant’s Grave, The Standing Stones, The Holy Well, the Fairy Arrow Heads, The enchanted Trout, the Cures, The Green Lady, The Haunted Cottage, The Cursed Cow, I could go on forever. This is our precious heritage, the stuff that made us what we are.

Conan Boyle served first in Hannastown and then went to St. Teresa’s Chapel which became the mother chapel of the local chapels. As a younger man Canon Boyle was to be seen riding horseback around the parish at Hannahstown.

During the war years the parish swelled massively due to many Belfast people evacuating out to little huts all round Hannahstown to escape from the bombing which when you consider that in one night May 1941 1,000 people were killed in an air raid it was very severe. I can not for the world of me understand why Hannahstown and surrounding countryside have not their own Historical Society, that is a must for the area if the heritage and history is to be preserved for later generations, and yes I would love to lend a hand in the formation and help with whatever material I have .

Peter Garland, A "Genuine History" expert pictured at Tullyrusk Cemetery.

Here lyeth the body of Alexander Witherup whodeparted this life February 16th 1780 aged 60 years. Elizabeth Waters departed this life January the 15th, 1720, aged 63 years.

Erected by Letitia Kennedy in memory of her father, James Matchet, who departed this life Decemr 13th, 1816 aged 72 years. Also her mother, Elizabeth Matchet who departed this life Novmr 30, 1825, aged 71 years. Here lieth ye body of Thomas Havron who died, on the 10th of November 1800, aged 63 years. Also his daughter, Mary Havron, who died, on the 14th of Agut 1801, aged 38 years.

Sacred to the memory of William Magee, late of Belfast who departed this life the 29th November, 1823, aged 65 years. This stone is erected as a small tribute of respect to one of the best Husbands by his afflicted widow.

I.H.S. Here lieth the remains of Patrick Magee who departed this life, 29th June, 1798, aged 52 years. Also his wife Jane Magee, who departed this life, April 14th, 1817, aged 70.

Erected by John Gordon, of New York, U.S. in memory of his father John Gordon, of Ballymacward, who departed this life, on the 10th of November, 1824 aged 57 years.

I.H.S. Here lieth the remains of James Dawson who departed this life, 17th December, 1835, aged 50 years. Also his daughter Eliza, who departed this life, 10th May, 1854, aged 26 years. Also his wife, Sarah, who departed this life, 14th July, 1859, aged 74 years. William Dawson departed this life, 16th October, 1887,aged 65 years.

Erected. I.H.S. by Charles Hilland, of Belfast, to the memory of his daughter, Ellenor Hilland, who departed this life, the 10th June, 1839, aged 10 years. Also Elizabeth Hilland who departed this life, the 8th April, 1844, aged 2 years. Also Ellenor Hilland who departed this life the 10th Novr, 1841, aged 2 years. Also the above names Charles Hilland, who departed this life, the 19th Feby, 1852, aged 56 years. Lamented by all who knew him. Also his daughter, Isabella Hilland, who departed this life, the 10th July, 1854, aged 7 years. Also his daughter, Jane Hilland, who departedthis life, the 8th Novr, 1858, aged 21 years.

I.H.S. Erected by John McLarnon, Snr, of Tulleyrusk in memory of Felix Magee; died 24th June 1827, aged 88years,

Here lieth the body of Andrew Close who died, May

24th 1758, aged 75 years. Also the body of Ann Close

who departed this life, July 14th, 1767, aged 75 years.

Here lieth the body of Bryan Close, of Deiryaughey,

farmer, who departed this life, June 4th, 1794, aged

79 years. Requiescat in Pace.

 

I.H.S. Here lieth the body of Henery Davey, of

Dund road, who departed this life, January 18th, 1800,

aged 71 years. All lieth the remains of Henry

Davey, of Knockarin, who departed this life, December

10th, 1810, aged 25 years. Who lived beloved & died lamented.

Here lyeth the remains of Margaret Matchet who

departed this life, on the 13th of August 1806, aged

27 years. Also the remains of John Matchet, who

departed this life, the 20th day of May, 1776, aged 54 years.

 

Here lieth the body of James Magee who departed this

life, 23rd Decr, 1817, aged 41 years.

Memento Mon. I.H.S. Erected by John Tolan in

memory of his father, Enias Tolan, who departed this

life, on the 5th day of May 1820, aged 59 years. And

also his wife, Fanny Tolan, who departed this life,

February the 10th 1846, aged 92 years.

I.H.S. Erected by William Toland in memory of his father Hugh Toland, who died, 12th August, 1824,

aged 54 years. Also his mother, Jane Toland who died, 8th June, 1856, aged 92 years. Also his brother James Toland, who died 7th April, 1844, aged 23 years. Also William Toland who died, 24th Sept, 1884, aged 76 years.

Erected to the memory of Alice Magee of

Ballymacward who departed this life, on the 20th

January, 1814, aged 64 years. Requiescant in pace.

I.H.S. Erected to the memory of John Magee, of Ballymacward, who departed this life, 9th October, 1848, aged 73 years. Requiescat in pace.

I.H.S. Erected by Sarah Magee, of Ballymacward, to the memory of her husband, Patrick Magee, who

departed this life 25th June 1850, aged 34 years.

Requiescat in pace.

(The above three Magee stones adjoin each other)

Erected in memory of James Alexander who died 11th

May 1844, aged 80 years.

(Au above inscriptions were copied from upright stones, 1914,)

following extract is from a book titled “Memorials of the Dead"

I.H.S. Memento Mon. Erected by Daniel McLernon, of Leathemstown, to the memory of his Grandmother, Hannah McLernon, of Tullyrusk, who departed this life, on the 6th May, 1781, aged 53 years. Also her son, Bernard McLernon, who departed this life, on the 23rd of October, 1791, aged 20 years. Likewise his father, Daniel McLernon, of Leathemstown, who departed this life, on the 10th of June, 1828, aged 60 years.

I.H.S. Erected by Roger Close to the memory of his father, Roger Close, who departed this life, July the 26th 1793, aged 65 years. Also Molly Close, wife to the undernamed who departed this life the 26th August 1801 (or 1807) aged 69 years. And by Wm. Davey in memory of his mother, Nellie Davey, & of his

aunt, Jane Kennedy, also of his uncle the above named Roger Close. R.I.P.