Robert William McILLREE (1777?-27.4.1848)

Jane

I am pretty sure that I know where the family tomb for this family is in Oughavale.  I go there quite a lot to check on the Cemetery for enquiries, and also some of my family are at rest there.

Surrounding the ruins of the old Church there are many tombs of the older families in Westport and all denominations.

In later years it became a more common resting place for RC Burials as the Church of Ireland have there own Cemetery in the town of  Westport nearby their church. 

When the weather improves (everywhere is waterlogged here at the moment)  and my flu goes away I will go over and have a look for you, I know some of the stones are in disrepair, but as far as I can recall they are all together.

I don't have other information on the family but will keep an eye out for you.

Regards

Dympna

Dear Dympna,

Thanks so much for your message. In 2011 I visited ireland and went out to the Augavale Old Cemetery. A lovely woman, whose name I can't recall, drove out in front of me from the Westport Church of Ireland to show me where the cemetery was. I tried to go across to the old graves but could not get into the cemetery on that side of the road. Also the graves were all covered in vines so were hardly visible. I do have grave inscriptions from a Mayo website so that is why I know they are there. I did not find any on the side of the road that contains the modern Roman Catholic graves but of course they could be there somewhere. It would be wonderful if you could go out to see if they are visible some time but do not trouble yourself too much. There are stained glass windows in the Westport church that commemorate Catherine Sidney or Sydney McIllree nee Jennings and  Fanny Margaret McIllree who were respectively the wife and daughter of the Robert McIllree (c. 1815-c. 27.7.1886) who was a bank manager at the Westport Bank of Ireland. Kind Regards, Jane

Jane

It will be no problem, as I said I know where the Grave is.  Is is walled and inside the wall it is mostly overgrown, but you can make out some of the stones.

You may have looked in the small Graveyard on the right side leaving Westport, there are only a few graves there, in fact my Ancestors have a small tomb there which dates to 1790's.

The Livingstone one is on the right side and near to the old chapel.

I was reading a book over the Christmas "Attractive Mayo Spots, by J F Quinn" (its really transcriptions from the papers in 1940's), It said

Other Old Westport Families

"The Levingstones were also big men in the commercial life in Westport, Brewers, millers and shippers, they extended their activities to Ballinrobe and Castlebar, made money and purchased estates.  Times changed,  dumping handicapped them, the great breweries and mills shut down, to be revived subsequently when Messrs Hall erected the great mill at the Quay, now in commission by another firm.  When they got out of business the Livingstones settled on their estate in Belclare, but they have been out of it for some years."

Dear Dympna, Thanks so much for this information. I must have missed the grave when I was searching. It was a bit wet. Kind Regards, Jane

Hi Jane

Today was damp but I went to Westport to take a snap of the Livingstone Tomb, its the walled one, with 6 Graves inside.

I'll just attach one here, you can send your email address to mine and I'll send you the other as they have to be reduced.

In this photo you will notice the building in the background covered in ivy, this is the old medieval church that is mentioned in your notes.

If you are standing near the Church looking towards the Grave on a clear day you would get Croagh Patrick in the background.  As soon as the days get brighter I will get you one of these shot.

As soon as I get your email address I'll send you the others.

Have a nice week-end

Dympna

Dear Dympna, Thanks so much. I wonder how I missed the grave! Loved Croagh Patrick but wasn't fit enough to climb it. My email address is jmor7639@bigpond.net.au. We have a heatwave over much of Australia. But endured a storm here yesterday early evening. Unfortunately lots of houses and one life lost in Tasmanian bushfires. This is turning out to be a very hot January. Many of my plants are suffering or half dead. Just like the 10-year drought that ended in 2010 but with a bit more rain. Kind Regards, Jane

Jane

Just wanted to check if you got the photographs ok, sent them by email.

Regards

Dympna

Thanks so much Dympna. The photos are wonderful. I do recall seeing that grave but could not read the inscriptions as my sight isn't the best. We are having a bit of bushfire crisis here. On "fire alert" today so I have a lot of other things on my mind such as wouldn't it be nice if it rained properly. Please send us some of your water!
Best wishes, Jane

Thanks so much Dympna. The photos are wonderful. I do recall seeing that grave but could not read the inscriptions as my sight isn't the best. We are having a bit of bushfire crisis here. On "fire alert" today so I have a lot of other things on my mind such as wouldn't it be nice if it rained properly. Please send us some of your water!
Best wishes, Jane

Thats fine Jane

I would gladly sent you some of our rain if that was possible,

Don't know if I sent you a link to the Mayo Genealogy  Facebook Page, when you are sorted out you can just ask to join, any maybe other members might be able to answer queries for you.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/clansofmayo/

Please keep safe

Dympna