Mausoleum to Edward O’Grady & family

The graveyard at St John’s Knockainey has a number of interesting mausolea, several are protected structures and many are to the O’Grady family. The Knockainey Historical & Conservation Society have a lease on the redundant church; they use and maintain it for community purposes. The Society undertook a comprehensive graveyard survey prior to embarking on work to the graveyard.

In 2012 they obtained funding of 75% of costs from the Heritage Council and LEADER and decided to conserve the Edward Stamer O’Grady mausoleum. This gable-fronted structure has a pitched stone roof, coursed rubble limestone walls with buttresses, eaves and cornice of ashlar limestone. There was a lot of stone displacement due to the invasive vegetation. Above the pointed arch blocked up doorway is a plaque inscribed:

THIS TOMB WAS ERECTED BY MARY,
WIDOW OF EDWARD O GRADY ESQ
OF STEPHENS GREEN DUBLIN
FOR HIM AND THEIR
IMMEDIATE DESCENDANTS,
1838.

The Follies Trust was impressed by the careful approach being taken by the architect, Catherine O’Brien, and the Society but were concerned that, due to a shortage of funding, the restoration of the doorway had to be removed from the contract. The Follies Trust agreed to provide funding for a new door and were delighted that as the cement infil was removed the original grill was found and the forked hinges were in the reveal. This showed that the original door was wooden and a local joiner undertook the work and all original features were reused.

The work was completed in 2013.

Before work started:

…and after…