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
Here are some pictures I just found taken in Moy Cemetery. Most of the graves are old and in poor condition.
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
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”.
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”.
Row 6
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.
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.