Stolen Killoughey graveyard sign is returned

A sign detailing the layout of the old graveyard in Killoughey which was stolen last week has been returned.

Odhran Condron, who along with his mother Breda, came up with the idea for the sign, confirmed to the Offaly Independent today, Friday, that he had found the sign left outside the cemetery last evening (Thursday).

The sign was to have been unveiled at a special blessing of the graves in the old cemetery on Saturday afternoon last, but that plan had to be scrapped when it emerged it had been removed. It was believed to have been taken between 8pm on Friday, June 27 and 11am on Saturday, June 28.

The sign, which contained a map of the various graves in the historic cemetery, was the result of ten years' research.

Odhran explained that the map itself had been damaged with scrapes and dents.

"We'll have to get a new map done," he explained.

However, both the frame for the map and the stand for the frame were returned "in good enough condition" and can be reused.

Odhran remains puzzled as to the motivation for the theft, but believes the publicity over the incident helped in securing its safe return.

He explained that having completed the research for the project, the work of having the map redone will not be onerous, but he admitted the entire incident had taken a little bit of the good out of the project.