Mayo island launches cemetery preservation project

By Tom Gillespie

AN island community, nine miles off the Mayo coast, are to undertake a project to safeguard the ancient graveyard on the island.

This autumn, the Inishturk Community Club has launched the St. Columba’s Graveyard Project, a vital initiative to protect, preserve and share one of the island’s most important heritage sites.

A spokesperson for the group said: “The graveyard holds centuries of stories - family histories, traditions, and connections that bind us as a community and link our diaspora across the globe.

“By carefully recording inscriptions, mapping grave sites, and creating a digital archive, we will ensure this knowledge is preserved for generations to come.”

The spokesperson emphasised why this matters, adding: “The project safeguards Inishturk’s cultural identity by supporting genealogy and research, strengthening diaspora connections, conserving headstones through documentation, and leaving a lasting legacy that preserves stories beyond living memory.

“The project will take place this autumn, with expert support from Scéal Heritage Consultancy.

“Thanks to the Community Heritage Grant Scheme, much of the cost is covered, but local support and participation are essential to its success.”