Graveyards

Whenever I'm in a new country I want to check out the cemeteries. One can learn a lot about a people from the way they bury their dead.

It is also a great source of names for a novel if I were writing one based in that place and time.

Today was the day for Westport Ireland's Aughavel Cemetery between lunch and rain.

There is an old and new section. The old graves go back to the early to mid 1900s. The new are new including this year. They style has not changed greatly.

At one time the cemetery had a medieval church, but little remains today.

Like in France, we learn a little about the people from what is written on the stone, but this is the first place I've seen an address given. There was one woman who died very old, her address was given, and the name of a family who erected the stone was given.

In another, we are asked to remember Kim who lies elsewhere.

Not many flowers were in the cemetery, but between the rain, wind and cold it is little wonder. However, anyone wanting to plant flowers or evergreens for Christmas can find water here.