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Sam Hamilton is a local man in Maghera. Both Sam & George Shiels share a very keen interest in this church and graveyard. They both reminisce here over a special service which was conducted here back in the 1960s by the late Canon Swain. It was an anniversary service, and was supported by all of the local churches. They remember that hundreds attended and the congregation spilled outside the church grounds. George remembers being on the outside of the wall looking over at the proceedings. A substantially larger congregation than country churches enjoy today.

One of the last people to be buried in St. Lurach’s graveyard was a relative of George Shiels. He takes us to the grave of James Shiels and Margaret (Gretta) Shiels. George says he has no recollection of any burial taking place after Gretta’s in 1977. William Roulston remarks that this modern headstone is quite unusual in this environment as most of the headstone here are two or three hundred years old.

Stone with symbolic carvings Here, as with numerous other graveyards around Northern Ireland, you will occassionally find artistic or symbolic carvings on some of the headstones. The appearance of these motifs are indicative of the trend of stonemasons at various periods. One particular stone in this graveyard, that of Henry Diamond (died 1767), clearly depicts an Hour-Glass (representing the flight of time), a Cross, a Crown, an open book (most likely the Bible), a horn or trumpet of some kind and a pointing finger. Although some of the carvings are known mortality symbols, and can be seen elsewhere, the choice of the musical instrument and the crown remains unexplained. William Roulston feels that these artistic and individualistic symbols actually tell us quite a lot about how highly Henry Diamond was regarded by his family. He poses the thought that in 1767, this may well have been the most ornate headstone in this graveyard. Another gravestone nearby has a carving depicting two cherubs.

Stone with no name There are numerous headstones in this graveyard which bear only the inscription “Here lieth the body” with no name below. Why this should be is something of a mystery. One of the theories that attempts to explain this is that families or individuals may have bought their burial plot and headstone during their lifetime and then, when they were dead, no-one took it upon themselves to have the stonemason fill in their names. Another suggested possibility is that the famillies couldn't afford to bring the mason back to carve the names and these were eventually overlooked over time as the family died out. Whatever the explanation, no-one will ever know who the families are who lie beneath these anonymous stones. No records exist. Their identity must remain a mystery.

Watty Graham was a local farmer who got himself involved in the 1798 rebellion. He was hanged from the tree which used to stand at the rectory gates. (The tree was destroyed by a storm in 1945). After he was executed, a servant was made to walk through the streets of Maghera with Watty’s head on the end of a pike. Watty Graham was buried in Culnady and then later, when the disturbances in the country calmed down again, he was brought back here and re-buried in St.Lurach’s graveyard.

More curious perhaps is the story of William Cuddy, who was also hanged from the same tree. Legend has it that he was aided and cut down from the tree very quickly after the hanging and was actually revived back to life. Subsequently he is said to have emigrated to America. That said, there is a headstone here in the graveyard with his name on it. Confusing? Well perhaps it’s supposed to be… William Roulston says that he has recently heard a story that claims there was a mock funeral held purely to confuse the authorities into thinking that William Cuddy had in fact died at the hanging.

Audio Clip 3: Curious stories about St. Lurach's