Historians trying to solve gravestone mystery
HISTORIANS IN Mallow are seeking help to solve an intriguing mystery sparked by the discovery of a poignant gravestone erected at the National Cemetery in Glasnevin.
The gravestone is dedicated to one Esther Sheehan Crehan, a Mallow born poetess born in 1904 and who died on October 3, 1993. The front of the gravestone bears the simple inscription ‘ sadly missed by Dave and Ann'.
The reverse side of the stone bears two moving pieces of verse, one attributed to Esther Sheehan and the other to Anne Crehan.
Ester Sheehan's reads ‘Mala'. Never forgotten Lovers Leap, hand clasp kiss and laugh. The memory of the echo will be by epitaph' - Esther Sheehan.
The inscription below that reads: ‘ The Mystery. The biggest mystery of life, and no one can find it. It’s put in a box, with cold letters to hide it. Its past, its present, its future to, And what I am talking about, just remembering you' - Anne Crehan.
A smaller stone in front bears the inscription ‘Anne Crehan. Died 02-09-04. Remembered esp by Jim Reidy'.
Tim Sheehan of the Mallow Development Partnership's heritage committee told The Corkman that members noticed the grave during a recent visit to the Dublin cemetery. The visit came ahead of a ceremony taking place at Glasnevin next Sunday, where a piece of stone taken from the old Mallow Viaduct is to be dedicated to the patriot Thomas Davis. The event is one of a number taking place over the year to mark the bicentenary of Davis' birth.
“I must admit we were all very intrigued when we saw the gravestone as none of us had ever heard of Esther Sheehan before,” said Mr Sheehan.
“It is of particular interest to me on a personal level as we share the same surname.”
Following the chance find committee members have tried to find out more about Esther Sheehan and Anne Crehan but have had no success.
“We have done some preliminary searches through parish records and on the internet, but have found no reference to a poetess from Mallow by the name of Esther Sheehan. We hope to get a look at the records in Glasnevin on Sunday in a bid to shed a bit of light on the mystery,” said Mr Sheehan.
He asked that any local people who may be able to assist their search get in contact with a committee member. “We would love to meet any relatives Esther may have in Mallow and perhaps feature her on the Mallow Literary trail in the future,” he said.