Unknown dead remembered

Last Friday, March 19, a special memorial service was held for the hundreds of people who lie in unmarked graves beside the Newton Limavady Union Workhouse at Scroggy Road. A boulder placed on top of a concrete slab is the only indication that the wooden fenced plot holds anything more than soil. Canon Sam McVeigh led the special service, which included words from LCDI manager Damien Corr and the Mayor of Limavady Cathal O hOisin, who laid the first bouquet of flowers in memory of the dead.

Mayor O'hOisin said: "I am very pleased to see so many important people from the community here today to mark the unknown people buried in this plot. Many of those that died had names which are still prevalent in the area and many standing here today could have someone related to us."

"The workhouse was a place of great sadness and it is good to see it today being used by LCDI in the way it is."

The event is organised by LCDI each year to coincide with the anniversary of the opening of the workhouse on March 15, 1842. Mr Corr said that through LCDI, regular interpretive tours and talks on the Workhouse revealed just how little local people know about the building and the pauper's graveyard. He said he believed many local people walk past the graveyard everyday, unaware of the deep history connected with the site. The names of those who died in the Workhouse are a matter of public record and are available at the public records office in Belfast. Mr Corr added that in the worst days of the workhouse over ten people each week died.

Canon McVeigh read a number of quotes and prayers from the Bible, dedicating his words to those that lost their lives during the difficult workhouse days.

He said: "I want to bring a spiritual side to today do I reflect on all those that entered the front door of that workhouse. Most notably there is a print of a mother, father and child walking up to the workhouse. We pray today that no one will ever endure the hardship like the hardship suffered by them and all that came here."

Of the many people attending the service, was local woman Nora Cuskeran and her daughter Sheila Broad. Sheila was revisiting her home town with husband Colin from Queensland, Australia and spoke of just how great it was to see that a special service was still being held for those that died during the workhouse days.

Sheila said: "The service was lovely. It is sad to think that we are standing her on top of thousands of unmarked graves and the pain and suffering experienced by those that are buried here. Me and my husband have travelled from Australia to visit my mother here in Limavady, and she suggested that we come here today to learn about the town's history."

Pupils from Roe Valley Integrated Primary School read a number of poems written after they toured the building just a few weeks earlier. The children also lay flowers on behalf of the school. The service ended with a beautiful rendition of 'Going Home' by Andrew, a member of St Mary's Pipe Band.

LCDI General Manager said he hoped the service reflected that those that lost their lives during the workhouse days were being remembered in the way we should. He added that the reflection of those difficult days is a reminder of just how lucky we are today.

"Of the 27 people that died during this month in 1847, diarrhoea was the cause of death for may. If nothing else their experience tells us that despite falling house prices, job losses and swine flu, we don't have it that bad."

Opened in 1842, the Limavady Union Workhouse, is reported to be one of the best preserved buildings of its type in the whole of Ireland. Jimmy McCurry, the blind fiddler who brought the melody of Danny Boy to the ears of Jane Ross is said to have died there. It became the Limavady Cottage Hospital in 1932 and retained this function until 1998. Owned now by Limavady Community Development Initiative, guided tours are made by appointment, during which the visitor can view the workhouse gate lodge where new entrants were received, one of the dormitories and the dining area. The Pauper's Graveyard is an integral and poignant part of the tour.