It is often said that one cannot claim to be a true ‘old Galwegian’ or ‘auld shtock’ unless one has some relations buried in Forthill Cemetery at Lough Atalia. It is probably the oldest cemetery in Galway. The Augustinians have been associated with it since the year 1500. The Augustinian convent or priory was built there by Margaret Athy at the request of a friar, Richard Nagle, and it probably stood on level ground at the upper level of Forthill. The grounds of the priory extended quite a bit along the shores of Lough Atalia, at least to the site where St Augustine’s Well is today. Nothing at all remains of the priory except some drawings on the 1625 and 1651 maps.
In 1551, the churches and cemeteries of the Dominicans, Franciscans, and Augustinians were handed over to the Reformed Collegiate Church by Edward VI, but somehow, Catholics continued to worship at Forthill until 1603.
In 1588, more than 300 members of the Spanish Armada were washed ashore, arrested by the authorities, and taken to Galway where they were all slaughtered. The people of the town took pity and laid them all to rest in this graveyard.
In 1596, Red Hugh O’Donnell attacked the city of Galway from St Augustine’s Hill and caused a great deal of damage. The townspeople realised the strategic importance of this high hill and so a star shaped fort, incorporating the church, was built here as part of the town’s defences. Walls were constructed around the church and a deep ditch dug outside. The stone walls were 16.5 feet thick. Inside, there was an even higher wall and a drawbridge entrance to a strong gatehouse. At this time, most of the older tombstones were destroyed.
The Augustinians returned for a time, but because of the strategic importance of the hill and the impending fear of other invaders, notably Cromwell, they drew up an agreement with the corporation allowing all the buildings to be demolished if necessary, with the stipulation that the corporation would build a church elsewhere if and when true peace returned.
In August 1811, the graveyard was enclosed by Robert Hedges Eyre as a mark of respect for all those interred there. In 1855, the foundation stone for the Augustinian Church in Middle Street was laid by the historian James Hardiman, and Forthill was largely neglected after that. However, in recent years a team of locals and parishioners have got together to clean up the graveyard and maintain it, so that it is in very good shape today.
This photograph of the lower part of the graveyard, with Lough Atalia in the background, was taken by Hill in 1905.
