Volunteers clean up historic Louth cemetery

Over several weekends in October, volunteers came together at Killincoole Cemetery in Readypenny to reclaim the historic burial ground from years of overgrowth, unveiling headstones and preserving a site rich with local heritage, including graves dating back to 1426.

Over three weekends in October a group of volunteers gathered in the Cemetery.

The cemetery had become overgrown since Covid times, and the task was to restore  it as a fitting resting place for the ancestors of the surrounding area. 

Over those weekends  a lot of clearing was done and many headstones which had been covered in briars, ivy and scrub are once again visible and accessible.

The earliest headstone date recorded is 1426. Inside the gate stand five identical granite headstones which mark the graves of Vere Foster's relatives.

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Vere Foster, Glyde Court, was a benevolent landlord who financed the emigration to America of more than 2,000 men, women and children. He also made many trips to America to help many find employment. 

He had a keen interest in education and as president of National Teachers Organisation andt helped improve the lot of teachers. 

He also covered the e cost of building and repairing hundreds of schools throughout the country.