The Ghosts of Dangan Castle

 

So, first of all these are not REAL ghosts, but rather former inhabitants of Dangan Castle. 

Our Allen and Sweeney ancestors who lived on the perimeter of the great estate would have known OF these people, and perhaps acted as groundskeepers or servants to the estate. We know that the Sweeney's acted as nurserymen in the area, so they may have worked on the grounds. We know that the Allen's had experience with horses; Frank Allen was said to have raised race horses on his farm. It is possible they worked in the stables for the gentry. Who knows? We of course have no records that far back, other than they live on and farmed pieces of land connecting to the estate. The Wellesley family ended up in debt, selling the now ruined estate at Dangan to Colonel Burrows, who then leased it to Mr. O'Conner.

Who lived at Dangan Castle?

The inhabitants of Dangan Castle were an illustrious family indeed.

Forfeited lands at Dangan after the battle of Dungan Hill in 1652 included lands owned by Catholics Robert Rochfort, Garrot Smith, and Valerian Wesley.

Garret Wesley- forfeited lands after the battle of Dungan Hill- so- how did he get them back? They became Protestants. Valerian Wesley owned 380 acres at Dangan in 1654.

Garret Wesley- circa 1665- died 1728- Represented Trim and County Meath in the Irish Parliament. Had no children and left Dangan to his cousin, Richard Colley.

Richard Colley Wesley, 1st Baron Mornington- born around 1690 as Richard Colley, inherited the estates of Dangan and Mornington in County Meath from his cousin, Garret Wesley, in 1728, changing his name. Represented Trim in the Irish House of Commons from 1729-1746, High Sheriff of Meath in 1734, became Baron Mornington in 1746. He was described as an eccentric, good-natured country gentleman. He was also extravagant and died in debt, resulting in his grandson Richard selling Dangan Estate 40 years after his death.

Garret Colley Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington

Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington 1735-1781

Garret Wesley was born at Dangan Castle was a musician who excelled in the violin from his early childhood and later became a composer. It was said that Dangan Castle had two organs- one in the hall and one in the chapel, and a harpsichord in the breakfast room. He attended Trinity College in Dublin, becoming a professor of music in 1764. He represented Trim in the Irish House of Commons and succeeded his father in 1758. He married Anne Hill-Trevor in 1759 and had nine children, many of whom made their marks in history. Unfortunately he was careless with money, leaving the family in financial ruin, forcing the decision to sell their Irish estates.

His children included:

Richard Colley Wellesley- born 1760 Dangan Castle, attended Harrow, Eton, and Oxford, represented Trim in the Irish House of Commons in 1780 then inherited his father's title of 2nd Earl of Mornington in 1781, taking a seat in the Irish House of Lords. Due to the extravagances of his father and grandfather he was heavily in debt and most of his Irish estates were sold. He served as Lord Lieutenant in Ireland and was Governor General of India from 1798-1805. 

Richard Wellesley 1760-1842

3- William Wellesley-Pole, 3rd Earl of Mornington- born 20 May 1763, Dangan Castle. William was educated at Eton and then entered the Royal Navy. He represented Trim in the Irish Parliament from 1783-1790. He became 3rd Earl of Mornington in 1842 after the death of his elder brother Richard.

William Wellesley, aged 14, 1777- painting by Benjamin West

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington- born 1 May 1769, Dublin, raised at Dangan Castle. He was educated at the diocesan school in Trim before furthering his education including attending Eton. One of the leading military and political leaders in Britain, one of the commanders who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, twice prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Gerald Valerian Wesley, the fifth son of Garret Wesley, the 1st Earl of Mornington, was born at Dangan Castle on 7 December 1770. He graduated with a Doctor of Divinity. He was "prebendary" (canon) of Durham Cathedral and Chaplain to the British Royal Household. He is buried at Durham Cathedral in England.

Rev. Hon. Gerald Valerian Wesley 

These boys played briefly in the halls of Dangan Castle, and around its grounds, getting their earliest education before being sent to school in Trim, then Dublin or England. For our ancestors, they might as well have been living on another planet. Their elevated means was beyond the imagination of the Irish Catholic tenants, who had only brief glimpses of the extravagances of that way of life.

Why aren't our Allen and Sweeney Ancestors Buried at the Dangan Church? Where ARE they buried?

Apparently our ancestors are not buried in the new churchyard at Dangan, which was built after most of them left for America. A local lady checked for me with no results. But it appears that the tradition was to be buried at Moy, on the Summerhill Estate, where there was once an ancient church, now gone, and older family graves.

For all you cemetery troopers- here is how you can explore the Moy Cemetery where our Sweeney (and likely Allen) relatives, neighbors and related families are buried in County Meath.

History of Moy

(See Allen blog on the history of Summerhill, Dangan and Moy with illustrations- History)

Moy Cemetery is within what was once the Langford Estate near Summerhill.  In 1654 Garett Lynch of Knocke owned the townlands of Summerhill and Moy. There were two castles, a mill, and an old chapel. The only trace of this church is the circular cemetery at Moy. This type of round cemetery is very rare. The graves start in the middle and are arranged in rings from the center to the outside edge.

http://www.meathheritage.com/index.php/archives/item/me01825-summerhill-demesne-church

Google Maps

If you go to Google Maps, you can explore this on your own. Just type in Moy, County Meath. If you move the little man up to the road to get a view, you will see little circles off the road where it says "Cemetery." Then move the little man around the circles to see the cemetery.

Here are some pictures I just found taken in Moy Cemetery. Most of the graves are old and in poor condition.

Gravestones 1

Gravestones 2

Gravestones 3

Who is Buried at Moy?

I knew that our ancestor, Hugh Sweeney (father of Margaret Sweeney, wife of Richard Allen, maternal grandfather of our immigrant ancestor Hugh Allen) was buried at Moy. So I wondered who else was buried there.

I knew there were inscriptions for some of the graves, but could not access them. The memorial inscriptions from 1761-1969 are in "The Irish Ancestor" Volume VI, no. 2, 1974 p. 85-96  (Family History Library Ref 941.5 B2i v.5-6. Moy, near Summerhill, Co. Meath by Beryl F.E. and Josephine Maguire-Tombstones in Moy Graveyard 1689-1972

BIG FIND- Kept me up all night long!I found the records online! Here are our ancestors and their relatives and neighbors!   https://meathhistoryhub.ie/moy-summerhill/- lists graves 

Moy Cemetery Graveyard Records

Row 7

51) *SWEENEY 1824 – Recumbent slab with top to east and inscription uppermost, so if re-erected it will need turning over or the inscription will face the wrong way.
Semicircular sunburst with cross, IHS and Heart inside an octagon. ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’ underneath and on each side a very fancy urn (or Chalice) with an elaborate lid. Border around the inscription. “Erected by Patrick Sweeney in memory of his father Hugh Sweeney who departed this life March the 4. 1824 aged 64 years. RIP”.

This is our ancestor, Hugh Sweeney

His son Patrick Sweeney died 1890, Anne Reilly Sweeney 1852-1905 

Row 5

27)* BYRNE 1836 – Modern stone with Chalice and Cross on top of each side. “Erected by Owen Byrne of Clonmahon in memory of his beloved wife Julia Byrne who died 10th May 1868 also his father Richard Byrne who died 21st Decr. 1862. His mother Mary Byrne who died 17th April 1836, his brothers James and John who died 18th Feb. 1847. His son Thomas who died 9th March 1939. His wife Annie who died 19th July 1953 RIP”.

This stone was erected by Own Byrne of Clonmahon, who was the husband of our Hugh Allen's sister, Catharine. He erected this in memory of his first wife, Julia. 

So where are Catharine Allen Byrne and Owen Byrne buried? Their son, Thomas Byrne, who cared for the Allen Farm with John Allen in 1901 is buried here with his wife.

There are no Allen's on the list for Moy, but there are Ason's. Since there are no Ason's living in the area during that time, I am hoping that this might be an misreading on an old tomb. Here are the Ason's.

86) ASON 1739 – Small old stone with Cross and IHS at top. “Here lyeth the body of John Ason who died 10th Dec. 1748 aged 62 year. Allso (This is the spelling of ‘also’ on this stone) Eliz His wife who depd. March 15th 1739 aged 59 years. Allso Willm aged 2 and John aged 4 years, Ye sons of Jams and Margy Ason who both depd in Jany 1750. Mercy. . .” Last words can’t be read.

Below is a list of familiar names that are likely related and/or neighbors buried at Moy.

Row 5

26) BYRNE 1921 – Modern Celtic Cross. Richard Byrne died 1921. His wife Mary Agnes Byrne died 1950 aged 87 yrs.

27) BYRNE 1836 – Modern stone with Chalice and Cross on top of each side. “Erected by Owen Byrne of Clonmahon in memory of his beloved wife Julia Byrne who died 10th May 1868 also his father Richard Byrne who died 21st Decr. 1862. His mother Mary Byrne who died 17th April 1836, his brothers James and John who died 18th Feb. 1847. His son Thomas who died 9th March 1939. His wife Annie who died 19th July 1953 RIP”.

31) GOGARTY 1909 – Modern white Marble Celtic cross with carving of BVM in a praying attitude. “Matthew Gogarty Summerhill died 1909 aged 80 yrs. and his wife Mary in 1910 aged 70 yrs. Daughters Mary 1910 aged 43; Kate 1921 aged 58 yrs. Jane 1929 aged 52, son Matthew 1936 aged 69. Patrick 1954 and his wife Elizabeth in 1959”.

Row 6

39) KEEFE 1768 – Old stone low in ground and wider than most. On each side at the top we get a small Maltese cross in a circle (4 ins diameter), while in the centre is the usual cross and IHS. A row of beading occurs under the above and then the inscription. “This stone was erected by Joseph Keefe in memory of his father James Kefe who departed this life May 7th 1768 aged 35 years”.

43) MORAN 1773 & MOORE – Old heavy stone leaning backwards, with Cross, IHS & Heart pierced by 2 barbs in a half sunburst. On each side of inscription is a plant (not in a pot) with straight leaves growing out of the stem on each side and a flower at the top like a tulip. Here lieth the body of Anne Moran alias Moore who departed this life June Ye 3rd 1773 aged 58 yrs. and her parents. Also her husband John Moran died March Ye 20th 1784 aged 72 years. This stone was erected by their dauer Mary Moran”. Underneath this inscription is a big 1774 in a triangle. Some S’s are of the old-fashioned long type.

Row 7

47) SWEENEY 1890 – An iron cross. Hugh Sweeney died 1890 and his wife Anne in 1905.
Row 8


51) SWEENEY 1824 – Recumbent slab with top to east and inscription uppermost, so if re-erected it will need turning over or the inscription will face the wrong way.
Semicircular sunburst with cross, IHS and Heart inside an octagon. ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’ underneath and on each side a very fancy urn (or Chalice) with an elaborate lid. Border around the inscription. “Erected by Patrick Sweeney in memory of his father Hugh Sweeney who departed this life March the 4. 1824 aged 64 years. RIP”.


53) FITZSIMONS 1922 – Small modern stone. Joseph Fitzsimons of Clondoogan died 1963 and his wife Annie 1922.


Row 9

66) FITZSIMONS 1769 – Small old crude stone with simple cross and IHS. “Erected by Martin Fitzsimons in memory of his wife Elizabeth Duffy and his son Edward January 1769”.

67) FITZSIMONS 1764 – Plain old stone with Cross and IHS (same design as 66). “Here lieth the body of George Fitzsimons departed March Ye 10 1764 aged 65 years. Also 6 of his children. Erected by his son Richard”.

Just in front of row 9-


71) GOGARTY 1866 – Large stone some 6 ft. high with Maltese cross at top. A stopper stone occurs on each side of the upright slab at base. “IHS of your charity pray for the soul of Catharine the beloved wife of Mathew Gogarty Moy who departed this life Septr 8th 1866 aged 74 years. Also her husband Mathew Gogarty who departed this life Septr. 27th 1880 aged 90 years”.

72) COUGARTY 1857 Large 5ft. upright stone with cross above, and lamb on a cross below. “Erected by Mr. Patrick Gougarty of Summerhill in memory of his beloved wife Mary who died 9th Decr. 1857 aged 30 years and of their infant child John. Also the above Patrick Gogarty (Here spelt without the U) died 9th June 1907 aged 85 years. And of their son Edward Gogarty died 28th Nov. 1882 aged 25 years. Mathew Gogarty died 29th Decr 1883 aged 30. Patrick Cogarty died 26th Aug. 1907 aged 52 years”.

Row 10

86) ASON 1739 – Small old stone with Cross and IHS at top. “Here lyeth the body of John Ason who died 10th Dec. 1748 aged 62 year. Allso (This is the spelling of ‘also’ on this stone) Eliz His wife who depd. March 15th 1739 aged 59 years. Allso Willm aged 2 and John aged 4 years, Ye sons of Jams and Margy Ason who both depd in Jany 1750. Mercy. . .” Last words can’t be read.

I am hoping to go over on a visit in late summer 2023! Anyone interested? Here is a fine place for a group to stay if we do a visit together!  Secluded Georgian home- Summerhill

Dangan Church

 History of Dangan Church

100th year celebration pamphlet and history

Dangan Church built in 1793 and closed in 1914- the church our ancestors worshipped in

Dangan church history, also Dangan estate, Summerhill estate

In 1799 Burroughs leased Dangan to Roger O'Conner, who was imprisoned and charged with high treason by 1796. By 1807 Dangan house was in ruins, and the timber around it cut down. It burned in 1809. It was still the property of Col. Burrowes in the 1830's, but just a ruin.

This article says that Peter Allen occupied the ruin of Dangan house in the 1830's and showed visitors around. 

Dangan House 1840