Clonmelsh Graveyard – Burial Place of Walt Disney’s Ancestors

I recently discovered a real hidden treasure in County Carlow. It is an old graveyard in Clonmelsh near Tinryland in Co. Carlow. Clonmelsh Graveyard is a burial place of Walt Disney`s Ancestors as well as to the famous Butler family of Kilkenny Castle.

Located only 8 km from Carlow Town and not far from Milford.

In my experience Clonmelsh Graveyard is one of Carlow’s most interesting and unique sites of historical importance.

Clonmelsh Graveyard have a huge tourism potential but isn`t well developed and known. In 2019 the graveyard was tidy up by volunters but it is still overgrown and acces isn`t good. The descriptions on the old graves are impossible to see, only the description on the graves of Disney family are visible.

There are tree Disney Headstones in Clonmelsh Graveyard:

  • Here Leith the Body Of Abigal Pain Alias Disney Who Departed This Life The 29 of Nov 1746 Aged 28 Years Erected by her husband Joseph Pain
  • Here Lieth The Body of George Disney of The City of Dublin Baker Who Departed This Life The Ninth Day Of May 1736 Aged 53
  • This tombstone is Erected Mary Disney in memory of the Husband Robert Disney who this day 2nd day of August Aged 62 years

In 1801, Arundel Elias Disney, great-grandfather of Walt Disney was born in Gowran Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Walt Disney’s ancestors left Ireland to travel to New York in 1834. So three of his ancestors are buried in Clonmelsh graveyard. That’s why every year Platform with Disney was on St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Carlow Town to remind his connection with Carlow.

In Clonmelsh Graveyard also lie the ancestors of the Butler family. Pierce Butler, one of the Founding Fathers, was born in Co Carlow. He was one of the architects of the American Constitution and was one of the signatories, in Philadelphia, 1788.

Location of Clonmelsh Graveyard:



Malgorzata

Blogger. Volunteer. Enthusiast of photography, nature, architecture, and cultural events. Since 2014 living in County Carlow in Ireland.

One thought on “Clonmelsh Graveyard – Burial Place of Walt Disney’s Ancestors”

  1. Lovely article. I always think it is a real pity there are so many old headstones impossible to read. I’d love to see them cleaned and revived!

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