Kill, Crosserlough, Roman Catholic

Kill cemetery, located in the townland of Kill, has been the burial ground of many local families for generations. It is also a graveyard with historical significance, with burials going back to the seventeenth century.

The mausoleums of the O’Reilly’s of Baltrasna (Oldcastle) are in this graveyard, as are the burial tombs of Colonel John O’Reilly (elected Knight of the Shire for County Cavan in 1689) who died in 1717 and Dr Hugh Edmund O’Reilly, former Vicar General of Kilmore. Philip O’Connell, in his 1927 writings, described the tombstone of Dr O’Reilly. He made the point that the massive horizontal slab was dated 1688 and was deeply sunk in clay. He described a series of emblems and symbols engraved on the slab. Myles Reilly, grandson of Colonel John O’Reilly, is buried in his grandfather’s mausoleum.

Fr Terence Smith was parish priest in 1704. The resting place of Fr Smith is believed to be in Kill cemetery. Clay from his reputed burial place is considered ‘blessed’. Locals and visitors alike often bring clay from the plot in the hope of relieving ailments and /or curing illnesses.

O’Connell’s writings also refer to the tomb of the Wilton family. The tomb is located inside the ruins of Kill Church. At one time the Wilton family possessed a vast amount of property in the locality.

Mass is celebrated in Kill graveyard on Cemetery Sunday every year.

[Graveyards | Crosserlough Parish, sampled 24 Aug 2020]