Lailli reveals graveyard’s secrets and hidden treasures during heritage week

FOUNTAIN of knowledge Lailli De Buitlear led keen students of local history on a series of tours of Delgany Graveyard recently, as part of Naitional Heritage WDelganeek.

Lailli, who is a long-standing and devoted resident of Delgany, brought three groups around the historic cemetery throughout the week.

Large black iron gates and a whitewashed wall marked the starting point for visitors ready to hear Mrs De Buitlear’s words of wisdom.

The guided tour included a domeshaped gravestone dated 1712-1800, including a fine example of Elizabethan lettering.

Examining the tombs, Lailli showed a captive audience the difference in the symbols and lettering pre and post-1800.

They also got to see an old cross dating from the seventh century AD, its horizon- tal arms cracked off by lightning in 1834.

An old church site is located on the graveyard grounds. It dates back to the 13th century, and its Its outline remains visible despite the intrusion of trees,

Lailli developed an interest in the graveyard in 1999 when she took photographs there as part of a photography course she was taking. Later, she was one of a committee of 11 people to open and restore the space as part of Delgany’s

Lailí De Buitlear (third from left) leading the tour of the graveyard during National Heritage Week.

Dorothy Talbot-Martin and Mary Breen listen intently during the tour of Delgany graveyard.

Lailí points out some of the interesting features of the graveyard, including these carvings on a headstone from 1725.