Curran gravestones in Drumphea, County Carlow

 There are two gravestones, right in the backwoods of southeastern carlow, in a quaint little village called

Drumphea, this how they read;

My grandfather, Martin Curran, seemed like myself to have a very strong connection with his ancestors, he raised this grave in memory of his father and also all of those in the grave, but also, there is one thing to note, and it is important, that not necarsarily are all the people mentioned on the stones are actually interred beneath them, there are at least three of them, firstly Martin Curran DMP himself, he lived and died up in Dublin and is buried in Glasnevin cemetery. second on the list is Peter Curran, who is buried with his family in Bunclody, just a few miles from Drumphea. Then thirdly is Catherine Curran, who is buried with her family in St Patricks cemetery in Vernon county, Wisconsin, USA. Upon seeing these graves in this light, it would be quite safe to say that these gravestones, one of which was erected by Martin DMP was more of a tribute to his Carlow family, rather than just a normal record of who lies below. A kind of genealogical list for future Currans to visit and admire.

The great thing about these graves is that they immediately transport us back to around 1788, when my Great Great Grandfather, Martin Curran was born(according to the stone) and his wife anne who was born a year later.

Though I cannot say 100%, that alot of the dates and ages mentioned on the stone do not nessarsarily add up. I will give all the examples i know at present(11/09)

Nannie Curran died 4/12/1884 age 24 years, I have seen her christening record as 30/1/1857 as anne, she would have actually been just two months short of her 28th birthday.

Mary Curran died 27th april 1889 age 27 years, once again, I have seen her baptismal cert on 4 nov 1858 which would have made her 30 years old.

Patrick Curran died 4 april 1889 age 17 years, again I have seen his civil birth certificate for 27 feb 1870 so he would've be over 19 years.

Peter curran died 11 may 1929 age 56. Peter is buried over in the old cemetery in bunclody, on that grave it states that he died in 1928, he was born 1 feb 1872, according to the civil record of his birth. It would be correct in bunclody but he should be 57 on the drumphea grave.

Bridget Curran died jan 12 1963 age 85, I have seen her civil record, and she was born 14 may 1875, 4 months short of her 88th birthday.

There are a couple of reasons this may have  happenned. Firstly when Martin was erecting the first grave he may have had record of the dates of death, and may have gone by his memory, as to how old they were when they died, I was told by my father that Martin DMP was quite old when that grave was raised. The next, and most probable explanation, was the fact that back in those days, people just didn't celebrate their birthdays like what we do nowadays, your birthday would just come and go, without you being aware of it, and then as time went on, birthdays came more fashionable, and then these people may have speculated their age, usually giving it a couple of years younger than they actually were. I have seen it elsewhere in my ancestry.

I know for a fact that  James and Sarah are definitely correct. As for the rest, I don't know.

There is a third Curran grave in Drumphea just a few yards away from these two.  I have recently spoken to a second cousin, who has informed me that it is of her father James Curran, who was the son of Francis Curran.