St James Cemetery

There is an old church and cemetery about 300 yards from our school. The old church dates back to the 13th century. There is a nineteenth century vault within the walls of the church belonging to the Joyce family of Mervue House. The church and cemetery have recently been excavated and restored. There are some interesting people buried in the cemetery. Sean Mulvoy was an old I.R.A. soldier killed in 1920. About 10,000 people led by the Bishop and 40 priests followed the remains to the cemetery for burial. A major road in Galway is named after him today. Tom Molineaux was born a member of a slave family in Virginia in 1770. He was a good boxer and won the American Championship. In 1816 he came to Ireland where he caught pneumonia and died. He was buried in St. James' Cemetery. The cemetery closed in 1950.

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