Salrock Graveyard

 

Concrete Cross with statue in niche

Christy Cunniffe

 

Celtic Cross with a full figure of the Crucified Christ

Christy Cunniffe

 

Close up of figure clad in ivy.

Christy Cunniffe

 

Celtic Cross with full figure of Christ

Christy Cunniffe

 

Close up of figure painted in green

Christy Cunniffe

 

Cross with statue in niche and ornamented with shells.

Christy Cunniffe

Salrock graveyard in Connemara contains some very interesting vernacular grave stones with a unique form of folk art. Two Celtic Crosses bear full images of the Crucified Christ and several other slabs and crosses have interesting features such as the addition of niches for protecting small statues, glass ornamentation, shell decoration and other ornamental features. All of these memorials have been made from concrete so were cast in a mould with the decorative features probably shaped by hand. They all appear to be of early twentieth-century date. I am unaware of the person responsible for doing the work but intend to undertake further research on this. Concrete memorials, though not of the same quality to these are also found in graveyards in the Maam Valley and in Killanin graveyard near Oughterard.