The Unsilent Stones Audiobook

Conversations with the Inhabitants of Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard

The Unsilent Stones Audiobook

Conversations with the Inhabitants of Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard

Join us as we enter Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard, to meet and converse with some of the residents in this immersive audiobook.

Welcome to The Unsilent Stones Audiobook. This audiobook features a wonderful cast of Irish actors performing fictionalised stories that relate the experiences of those resting in Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard.

Situated on a patch of dry ground just east of the River Shannon, the graveyard is positioned a short distance outside Athlone’s North Gate. In days gone by, this spot overlooked a small bay and harbour on the river. The graveyard takes its name from a Franciscan Friary Church that was under construction here during the late 1600s. It still stands today, though it was never fully completed — works ceased when catastrophic war came to Athlone in 1690 and 1691. While most of what is visible today dates to the 17th century, it seems certain there was religious activity on this spot long before. Four Early Christian cross-inscribed slabs were discovered here, suggesting that this may have been a significant Early Church site more than 1,000 years ago. It is also possibly the site of the first Franciscan Friary, which was established in Athlone during the 13th century.

But despite these potential early origins, the majority of the visible gravestones date to the 18th and 19th centuries. Very few of them remain in their original positions, having been moved to their present locations in 1984. Thankfully, Hazel Ryan recorded all the headstones and their inscriptions prior to their relocation. These headstones inspire many of the stories, and we will hear from 8th century Kings, medieval friars, innkeepers and gardeners, along with more tragic tales of war, poverty and injustice.

So join us as we enter Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard, to meet and converse with some of the residents. The people we will meet will take us on a journey across hundreds of years of Athlone history, and they will share their experiences in life and death with us. But we cannot just barge into the land of the dead and start asking questions. We need a guide to introduce us to the residents. Luckily, we know just the person. Meet Anne Lyster, the last person to be laid to rest in this ancient place.

THE UNSILENT STONES AUDIOBOOK

THE UNSILENT STONES AUDIOBOOK

Title: The Unsilent Stones Audiobook

Duration: 66 mins.

Summary:
Meet the Inhabitants of Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard. You can enjoy our Audiobooks anywhere, from the comfort of your favourite chair, or download to enjoy while you’re out and about. Simply hit play to hear the stories of Ireland.

The Unsilent Stones Audiobook

This audiobook was produced in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, who commissioned this work as the graveyard lies on the route of the Garrycastle to Athlone Marina Shared Cycleway and Footway, forming part of the National Cycleway linking Galway and Dublin. You can find more information about the archaeological sites investigated around Westmeath, Roscommon and elsewhere in a series of publications by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Check out their website at tii.ie where they are listed. Athlone Library is also a very useful resource for local historical research into the Irish midlands.

The audiobook script was written by Dr. Damian Shiels and Neil Jackman, and performed by Sharon Mannion, Sarah Jane Scott, Paula Rouse, Garry Mountaine, Malachy McKenna and Fionn Foley. Special thanks are due to Transport Infrastructure Ireland Project Archaeologist Noel Dunne and Rónán Swan, historian Gearoid O’Brien and to Hazel Ryan, who recorded the transcriptions and original headstones in the graveyard during the 1980s. Thanks also to project engineers Michael Kelly and Darren Fulham at Westmeath County Council, National Roads Office.

The music in the introduction and conclusion of this audiobook is an excerpt of a wax cylinder recording of the Vacant Chair by the famous Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore – known as the ‘Father of the American Concert Band’. He was born in Ballygar, County Galway in 1829, and his formal musical education began in Athlone where he studied under the great band-master Patrick Keating, who’s son is buried in the graveyard. Keating encouraged Gilmore to travel and expand his musical horizons. In 1849 Gilmore set sail for the United States of America, where he achieved great fame while serving in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War, Gilmore wrote the lyrics to the song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” as well as a large number of popular pieces of music. He also set up “Gilmore’s Concert Garden”, which became Madison Square Garden. He was the Musical Director of the Nation, leading the festivities for the 1876 Centennial celebrations in Philadelphia and the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886. He is also attributed as the man to begin the tradition of seeing in the New Year at Times Square in 1888. Though he is buried in Cavalry Cemetery in Queens, New York, we thought as a fellow local, some of the inhabitants of the graveyard might be familiar with his music, especially Patrick Keating’s son.

This audiobook was recorded at Bluebird Studios in Kildare with sound engineer Declan Lonergan and producer Róisín Burke.

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