Killannin Graveyard – Visit to the little known site of Killannin graveyard in Connemara that influenced the greater culture of Britain & Ireland (RSPCA, novels of Somerville & Ross) led by a person who takes on the mantle of the ‘Seanachaoi’ of old Ireland with his witty stories, his singing & his wonderful knowledge of all things local
Rosscahill
With local historian Michael O’Connor and his wife acting as tour guides, the children of St. Annin’s National School were regaled with lovely & oftentimes witty stories of the folk that were buried there both Protestant & Catholic, lord & tenant. At the beginning of the tour, Michael sings a beautiful self-penned song dedicated to the natural & social heritage of Killannin from the time of St. Annin in the 5th century through to present day Gaelic football heroes. The graveyard, with its ruined Catholic and Protestant churches, has an array of graves from the unmarked stones signifying the burial places of the poor local tenantry through to the great tombs of the famous local landlords, namely the Martins of Ross that included the flamboyant Richard ‘Humanity Dick’ Martin co-founder of the RSPCA and William Poppleton custodian to Napoleon Bonaparte.