Clonmany parish to index graveyards in ‘ambitious community project’

Inishowen-based Clonmany genealogy and heritage group is launching a “grave map”. 

The focus of the grave map is to make the community’s graveyards easily searchable for the public - in person and online.  

Professional surveyors from Mayo are currently creating detailed layouts of St. Mary’s Church in Cleagh, and at Saint Michael’s Church, Urris. 

The grave index will be made available online for researchers, genealogists, ex-pats, and local families. 

Once the project is completed, it will allow local people to more easily find their loved ones. 

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Marie Turner Doherty spoke to Donegal Live as a representative for the Clonmany genealogy and heritage group. Ms. Doherty said the money fundraised for the grave indexing will go towards paying the surveyors. 

The group had previously been saving money to afford a physical premises - however, they decided that the grave indexing was a more urgent priority for the community.

This project is important to the group because “it allows for people to connect with their roots.” Ms. Doherty helps manage the Clonmany genealogy and heritage group Facebook page and says that the group regularly receives requests regarding online graveyard access. 

Clonmany genealogy and heritage group are self-funded through subscription fees from the committee and donations from the public.

The GoFundMe for the initiative reads: “Significant planning, effort, and financial investment have already gone into the project. Organisers are now reaching out to the community for support to bring the project to a successful completion.”

“This project represents a significant step in providing an important service to the people of Clonmany, at home and abroad, and preserving and sharing a part of the rich heritage of Clonmany parish for future generations.”

The community group has set a target of fundraising €4,000 for the project. Should readers wish to donate to the parish project, they can click here. 

Ms. Doherty wished to thank the parish, the local priest - Father Kevin Doherty - and the community group for all their help on the project so far.