Mainham Cemetery () is a cemetery located in Clane, County Kildare, Ireland. The complex contains a medieval fortified church, the tomb of the Wogan Browne family, and a large modern graveyard with outdoor altar.
History
The
Clane area and its ford were often the site of conflict between the High Kings of Ireland (based at Tara) and the Kings of Leinster (based at
Naas). According to
Irish legend, a
duel took place near to the
bullaun stone between
Mesgegra, King of Leinster, and
Conall Cernach, champion of
Ulaid (Ulster).
Mesgegra only had one hand, so Conall fought with one arm tied to his side. Conall was the victor, beheading Mesgegra; his head was buried at Mainham, and his body at King Mesgegra's Mound near the
River Liffey. His wife Búan was so shocked by the sight of his severed head that she also died, and is said to be buried under the mound at Mainham.
This story is recounted in
Tallaind Etair ("The Siege of Howth") in the 12th-century Book of Leinster.
/ref>
A medieval fortified church was built by the Knights Hospitaller around the 13th century.
The mausoleum of the
/ref>[Corcoran, T. (1932:49). The Clongowes Record, 1814 to 1932: With Introductory Chapters on Irish Jesuit Educators, 1564 to 1813. Ireland: Browne and Nolan.]
It is currently operated by Kildare County Council.
Buildings
Graveyard
In three sections, with the area that surrounding the ancient church and is enclosed by a circular wall.
Church
Measuring , it has a tower on its southeastern corner with
arrowslits and a spiral staircase.
Its
fortified church nature reflects its location on the edge of The Pale.
Motte
The
motte is believed to be a relict of the first
Anglo-Normans motte and bailey, built by John de Hereford in the 13th century. Legend (detailed above) links it with King
Mesgegra and Queen Búan.
Mausoleum
/ref> Inside is a stone altar with the figures of Browne and his wife Judith Wogan, kneeling either side of the crucified Christ, with the wall embellished in
stucco with fluted
and a
frieze of
seraphim. An earlier tomb of Thomas Browne () was also placed in the mausoleum.
Notable burials
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One gravestone, that of Peter Mackey (), bears an inscription "This cross is carved from the original tomb of Wolfe Tone;" Wolfe Tone died in 1798 and was buried in Bodenstown, and his newer tomb was completed in 1873.
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A memorial to Blessed Fr John Sullivan SJ stands in the cemetery.
[Looby, J. (2021). A Man Sent by God: Blessed John Sullivan SJ. Ireland: Messenger Publications.]
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Johnny Grealy (1894–1981), member of the Old IRA and Anti-Treaty IRA; later involved with Clan na Gael in the United States
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It is a religiously mixed cemetery, even containing some Greek Orthodox burials.
