New digital archive will honour lives of loves ones buried in County Limerick graveyard

A LIMERICK woman is turning grief into a lasting tribute by creating a digital memorial dedicated to those buried in St Patrick’s Graveyard, Patrickswell.

Inspired by the tragically short life of her son, Tom Conway Mullane, who passed away just one hour and 58 minutes after birth, Jane Conway, Deputy Principal of Caherelly National School, hopes the online archive will preserve the memories and stories of all who rest there, ensuring they are never forgotten.

“One of my greatest fears is that he might be forgotten,” Jane said. “To mark his tenth anniversary, I’m working on a very special project: the creation of a website dedicated to St Patrick’s Graveyard. The idea is to honour and remember all who rest there by creating a page for each of the deceased.”

The website will feature individual pages dedicated to those buried in the graveyard, inviting families to share photos, memories, and personal stories of their loved ones. Jane wants to keep a digital record of the people buried there to keep their memories alive.

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Speaking about her son Tom, Jane explained: “He might have only been here for a short while but he made a huge difference to our lives, how you think about things, our family and probably changed the course of things even though he was here for such a short time.

“So it was just important to me that he wouldn't be forgotten and this is just another way of helping that. Hopefully, the other families might feel the same too”.

Jane, from Ballyneety, whose father Michael Conway grew up in Patrickswell, hopes to launch the site in November - the Month of the Holy Souls, a time traditionally dedicated to remembering the departed. She asked Parish Priest, Fr Eddie Cleary what he thought and he said the website was a great idea.

A plaque with a QR code will be installed at the entrance of the graveyard, allowing visitors to connect instantly with the online memorial and read about the lives behind the names on the headstones.

“The response to this project has been incredibly moving, and I’m so grateful for the interest shown,” Jane added. “I’d now like to invite families to take the next step: if you would like your loved one to be included, please consider sending on a photo, a few words, or a memory. No contribution is too small”.

Those who wish to participate can email stpatricksgraveyard@gmail.com or WhatsApp 086 7749749.