The ornate headstone accessory was a very distinctive piece, with a carving of a piglet beneath the word ‘Mam’ and was reported missing by a woman from Bray, on Tuesday, January 7, after she posted of her heartbreak on social media.
She wrote that the loss of the plaque occurred on the week that marked her late mother’s first anniversary, which made it all the more distressing.
The object itself was “very heavy so wouldn’t have blown away”, she said, and the design was chosen as her mother loved piglets.
The woman did not want her name published as her post prompted others to come forward with similar reports of memorials and other items, like vases, plaques and lanterns, going missing from Shanganagh, as well as from other cemeteries in Bray, including Springfield.
“Can’t understand the mindset of anyone who would do that but may they be haunted the rest of their days,” wrote one user to the forum, as several people shared their experiences, including one who had also lost items at their mother’s resting place, and another who said: “Had placed stuff on my nanny’s grave and aunts grave, two different locations in that place and the same day they was taken. It’s disgusting they need cameras up there.”
“We have had a similar experience in Shanganagh,” another wrote, while someone else remarked: “Nothing is safe there if it’s not cemented down – beautiful vases missing from my dad’s grave too.”
One woman said items had been taken six times from her husband’s grave and another said two “huge lanterns” had vanished from their family member’s grave. Springfield Cemetery in Bray was mentioned on several occasions by people who had lost items that had been left for their loved ones and, while the advice from one forum user was to “ask to see the CCTV . . . they are fairly good quality”, unfortunately there are no cameras at Shanganagh.
Shanganagh Cemetery is a sister cemetery to Deansgrange and, though it holds the graves of some prominent people – including Taoisigh Garret FitzGerald and Albert Reynolds – with an area of some 50 acres, it would be a vast amount to try to cover with CCTV.
Two stonemasons were contacted in the area and while one said they were unaware of any items going missing from graves, another said it was a common occurrence.
The loss of flowers, candles and smaller items does seems to be an issue, but the disappearance of what was clearly a very personal plaque has left many people feeling hollow. “Same thing happened to my mam and dad’s grave a few years ago,” one wrote. “Now anything solid I put on has been glued on.”
In a statement, the council said: “We have not received any formal complaints regarding the theft of a plaque from a grave in Shanganagh Cemetery. We strongly condemn any act of vandalism or theft within our cemeteries.“These sacred spaces are places of remembrance and should be treated with respect.
“We would ask anyone who may have information about this incident to contact An Gardá Siochana. Please note we do not have CCTV in Shanganagh or Deansgrange Cemeteries.”
While the piglet plaque has yet to be found, the family said they were approached by a resident who was able to console them with a piece of stone art that bears a close resemblance to the work that was lost, albeit on a smaller scale.
Joe, of Carraig Art, the same gift-giver who leaves little pieces of stone art around the public spaces of Shankill –including the nearby Shanganagh Park – for parents and children to find and take home, reached out to present them with a stone painting to commemorate their mother, whose first anniversary mass takes place next week.
The incident has been reported to gardai in Shankill.