Stone, Fossils, and the Hands That Shaped Them

Gravestone carved by Patrick Howard, Stonecutter. Memorial No. 113 Sean Reilig, Moycullen

John Tierney

Stone Mason & Cutters

Despite the abundance of stone in the area and the construction of medieval castles and churches, there is scant information available about the stone masons and cutters in the Moycullen area.

Patrick Howard

While recording in the Sean Reilig, Hazel Morrison discovered a stone dating back to 1741 for Griffon. It was carved by Patrick Howard, a stonecutter. When examined closely, it is extremely well-crafted, showcasing a sophistication in stone cutting that is rare for this period in Ireland. At this point we have no further information about Patrick Howard.

Loftus

There is a large grave slab in Mary O’ Shea’s garden which was unearthed when her parents were doing some work in their garden. The stone is dedicated to John Carr who died in It remains a mystery as to why the stone never reached the graveyard. According to anecdotal evidence, there was a stonecutter called Loftus who worked by Ballyquirke Lake. We have yet to get any more information about Loftus.

1901/1911 – Stone Masons in Moycullen

By the 1901 census, Moycullen had no ‘cutters’ and only five ‘masons,’ none of whom were local—they were all lodgers.

Patrick Goodwin and James Corcoran, both from Co. Mayo, were staying with Michael and Catherine Keeler in Tooreeney.

John McNamara, from Co. Clare, lodged with Bridget Reilly in Gortyloughlin.

Michael Birmingham and Pat Richardson were living with Joseph and Margaret O’Connor in Clydagh.

By 1911, all of these masons had left the area except for Pat Richardson. On 8 October 1903, Pat married Margaret Keeler of Tooreeney, the daughter of the household where the Mayo masons had stayed. He had clearly formed a close bond with his host family, as their children, Pat and Sarah O’Connor, stood as witnesses at his wedding. This branch of the Richardson family remains in the parish to this day.

Stone Craft and Guild Protection in 19th-Century Galway

According to the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland in 1846, the county of Galway had 119 Stone Cutters, 3 Lime Burners, and 538 stone masons.

Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland in 1846

Another clipping shows a petition by Mr Blake in The Mirror of Parliament for the … Session of the … Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 11 1841, who wanted a law to protect Members of the Guild of Operative Stone Masons in Galway to protect them against unqualified Masons.

Petition for Protection of the Guild of Operative Stone Masons in Galway.

Petition for the Protection of the Guild of Operative Stone Masons in Galway.

References

Blake, Mr. 1841. “Petition for Protection of the Guild of Operative Stone Masons in Galway.” The Mirror of Parliament for the … Session of the … Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 11.

Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland. 1846. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Dublin: Fullarton & Co.

Morrison, Hazel. Recording in Sean Reilig, Moycullen. Observation of the 1741 gravestone by Patrick Howard.

Morrison, Hazel. Census information. Census of Ireland, 1901 & 1911. National Archives of Ireland. Records for Moycullen parish. (Response to a post on Moycullen Heritage Facebook)

O’Shea, Mary. Account of the grave slab and stonecutter Loftus, Ballyquirke Lake, Moycullen.