The Ferns Old Graveyard Headstone Survey Project, funded by The Heritage Council is ongoing.
The project entails training to map and record headstones in the historic old graveyard adjacent to St. Edan’s Cathedral.
Overseen by the Ferns Old Graveyard Steering Group, volunteers continue to conduct a comprehensive survey of headstones/memorials by recording written text, photographing each headstone, recording iconography, style, maker and location of each headstone. Results will be digitised and made public online. As part of the project volunteers conducted a condition survey, identifying vulnerabilities and how best to protect and mitigate against them.
Training in how to conduct all aspects of the surveying and recording of headstones was given by local Archaeologist Barry Lacey of Slaneyside Heritage. The project continues to observe guidelines on best practice set down in the ‘Guidance for the Care, Conservation and Recording of Historic Graveyards’, published by The Heritage Council.
Volunteers in the project are in regular communication, sharing their knowledge and ensuring the very best outcome for this very valuable project.
The project is part of an overall Conservation Management Plan undertaken in 2025 by Slaneyside Heritage. The Plan set out a number of Recommendations – one of which was the mapping and recording of headstones in the old graveyard. The key priority in the Conservation Management Plan was to address vulnerabilities in the graveyard boundary wall. As the graveyard is in the care of Wexford County Council, the Steering Group liaised with Wexford County Council’s Heritage Officer to come up with a plan to address the issues. The great news is that permissions and funding are in place to undertake repairs to the boundary wall in Spring 2027. We’re advised that current weather conditions are not conducive to working with lime mortar.
The Steering Group wishes to thank all involved in this project which will have far reaching benefits for our community – in Ferns and globally. Particular thanks to Wexford County Council’s Heritage Officer Colm Moriarty and Claire Goodwin, Wexford County Council’s Biodiversity Officer who were most helpful in collaborating on this project.