Coffinless burial re-enactment at Westmeath famine memorial commemoration

The recreation of a burial from the time of the Great Famine, using a coffin modelled on the type used then was an innovative part of this year’s annual Famine commemoration, held last week.

The last Wednesday is June is now a fixed date in the calendar when the members of the Mullingar Famine Graveyard Committee gather at the burial spot next to the canal supply line in Robinstown to remember those who lie there.

The evening opened with a solemn procession around the perimeter of the grounds, led by a group in period costume (details with photo), and including those carrying a hinged coffin created by Eamon Creamer from Granard. Used extensively during the worst years of the Famine, the coffins, whose bottoms were hinged so that the corpse would drop out into the ground and the coffin could be used again, were a dreaded feature of a dark period in Irish history.

Des Walsh, committee member, welcomed those gathered, and acknowledged those who over the years made possible the annual event, including Br Frank Farrell, Br Sean Hannigan and Christina Mohan Fagan. He introduced the local clergy who led prayers on the evening, Fr Francis Musoke, assistant priest at the Cathedral of Christ the King, and the Revd Ian Horner, new rector at All Saints Church. Music and prayers followed, and, as is traditional, the Rosary, the third decade as Gaeilge, and a blessing of the graveyard.

Mr Walsh also acknowledged the support of Westmeath County Council in the care of the graveyard and reminded people that the plans for developing it as a memorial are in hand, despite the complications of the site, not least in archaeological terms.

Seamus O’Brien concluded the evening with an outline of the history of the graveyard, which he said the vice-guardians at the nearby workhouse opened in March 1849, the worst year of the Famine in this area. "Cholera, pestilence, poverty and Famine led to a massive spike in mortality necessitating the opening of this cemetery, which became known as ‘the Workhouse track beside the Supply’," he said.

"An average of 50 burials per week took place here, and this evening we re-enacted the coffinless internment of one such burial. Thank you to Eamon Creamer for all his help with the re-enactment.

"Our people’s greatest dread was a coffinless burial. They thronged the entrance hall of the workhouse as they breathed their last seeking to procure a committee coffin. Many died in the reception area or on the stone stairs leading to the segregated dormitories."

Mr O’Brien said that a number of coffins were made at the workhouse carpentry shop and some people were carried to the graveyard here in hinged coffins and were given what were called ‘Boulder Burials’.

"These coffins had handles fore and aft, as you can see here this evening. They were carried out by the back door of the workhouse along the Castlepollard Road and down the supply line bank to this pauper’s cemetery. Note the absence of road access, the same as the cholera graveyard in Kilpatrick."

The cemetery officially closed in 1890, and a new one was opened at Ballyglass. Mr O’Brien then read a passage from his book, ‘Famine Graveyard – Mullingar’s Pauper Burial Ground’, (which is available in Just Books and proceeds contribute to the upkeep of the graveyard).

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