The old church at Ballinascreen dates back to the early Christian period, and appears to have been originally a very substantial building, the gables being 3½ and the side-walls 2¾ feet thick; its length was 78½ and the breadth 25½ feet, rectangular in form. The building material was principally greenstone, the schists of Tullybrick were represented in the arching of the doorway, while the corners were sandstone brought from a distance. The west gable and 30ft. of the south wall, including a portion above the doorway are still standing, the rest of the building being down to within a few feet of the level of the surrounding graveyard, except for the corners of the east gable and a small portion of the adjoining side-walls. There is a considerable number of tombstones in the graveyard, all sandstone, with one exception, this being made of greenstone. The majority of the stones are in a bad state of preservation, moss-covered, partially decomposed, and difficult to read. Some are undecipherable, some have the letters sunk in them, while other have them raised in bold relief, a form of monumental work apparently difficult to execute. The majority of the stones that show any date were erected during the 18th century, and a few during the early part of the 19th century. They record the following surnames:–O’Kelly, O’Haran, O’Hagan, O’Brolly, O’Hegarty, O’Gilespy, McNeill, McNamee, McCormac, McWilliams, Dogherty, Gallagher, Henery, Cleary, Clerkin, Barnett, Donnoly, Cassidy, Bradly. At an early period this graveyward was the only burying-ground for the surrounding district of County Derry and the neighbouring County Tyrone, and I regret to have to have to state that it is in a very neglected condition. –G. B. Mc Keown (Draperstown).
George Barnett 