Athenry News & Views Spring 2026

Spring 2026

where grief could be shared and tension eased. While some customs may seem unusual today, they were rooted in deep respect and the belief that community presence lightened sorrow. Though wake practices have evolved, the core values remain. hardships just as we do today. My research revealed that my great grandmother Ellen Caulfield (née Coffey) of Cregmore died on the same day as her father, Michael Coffey of Ballybacka. Family lore recalls relatives travelling between both houses to attend the wakes. Infant and child deaths were tragically common and touched almost every family. In another account, John Higgins of Coshla, Athenry, later of Ardgaineen, Corrandulla, recalled the death of his young sister Annie in 1939. Interviewed by his son Pat Higgins (now living in New Zealand). “I remember her laid up on the table, with a white sheet around her. My father went to Athenry with the pony and trap and brought back a small white coffin. A couple of men carried her down the boreen and over toward Moorpark… Mammy was very sorry for her — sure why wouldn’t she.” This sorrowful memory reflects both childhood confusion and the quiet grief of parents. Continuity and Community ancestors not as fading names on gravestones but as real people with beliefs, rituals and emotions. They lived fully and left a legacy for us, their descendants. Today we continue to honour those who go before us with dignity, deep respect and a strong sense of community — just as our ancestors did. Family Memory and Loss Previous generations faced Immersing myself in these accounts helped me see our

Teampall Geal

The country is scattered with small rural cemeteries and sacred sites, quiet places that hold centuries of social history. These graveyards are more than final resting places, they are markers of the lives that shaped our communities and nation. Among these hidden gems is Teampall Geal, an ancient church ruin set in an idyllic rural landscape. Enclosed by stone walls, the site has served for generations as the burial ground of local families. Its headstones tell stories across time, some carefully inscribed, others marked only by uncarved stones that now stand mute against the weather. Preserving these inscriptions before they vanish

entirely is vital to safeguarding the history they represent. Leading that effort are Jackie and Eileen Freeney, supported by a dedicated committee whose commitment ensures the site remains clean, accessible and well cared for. Without their work, Teampall Geal could easily have slipped into neglect, another chapter of history lost to the passage of time. Community members, including Eamonn Gilligan, Donal and Della Jennings have also played an important role in preserving the site and contributing to the research of its history by Daire Enright. The booklet is available at Derrydonnell Filling Station and costs €15.

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