O'Neill Burial Chamber

Burial Chamber at Shane's Castle ca 1900 (Image: T H Mason/NLI)

The burial chamber at SHANE'S CASTLE was built in 1722 by "French John" Shane O'Neill (1665-1739) in the corner of a private graveyard (closed in 1802; probably the location of Edenduffcarrick village church).

French John erected the vault as "a burial place to himself and family of Clanneboy."

Directly above the wooden door of the vault there bears the inscription:-

"This vault was built by Shane McBrien McPhelim McShane McBrian McPhelim O'Neill Esq. in the year 1722 for a burial place to himself and family of Clanaboy."

Mature conifers, yew, and ash trees adorn the graveyard.

The graveyard gates are said to have been made in 1684.

The coffins were removed to the O'Neill family vault at Drummaul parish church, Randalstown, County Antrim, in the second half of the 19th century.

Arms of the 1st Baron O’Neill (present creation)

THE O'Neill vault at Drummaul parish church was built ca 1838 (presumably by John, 3rd and last Viscount O'Neill) at a cost of £500 (about £60,000 in 2021) as a family burial place containing niches for eighteen coffins.

(Timothy Ferres, 2022)

A most beautiful statue in memory of the Hon Arthur O'Neill (1876-1914)  stands in the graveyard within several yards of the burial chamber at Shane’s Castle.

Click to Enlarge (Timothy Ferres, 2022)

This memorial was placed in its present location during the 1980s.

First published in May, 2022.