Aghalurcher church and graveyard, just outside Lisnaskea, holds plenty of history both above and below the earth, not only as a place of burial for different faiths – but a scene of murder amongst families.

And George Elliott, a spokesperson for the historical group, Lesser Spotted Anorak, has done a bit of digging into the site.

Dating from the Early Medieval to the Late Medieval period, the church now stands in ruin although the graveyard is still used for burials occasionally.

"There are thought to be about 30 Medieval graveyards in the county, and the one at Aghalurcher is reputed to be the oldest," claims George.

"It may seem macabre or morbid to visit, and to have an interest in the sites, but there are few places where serenity and solitude can humble the mind."

Traditionally associated with St. Ronan and St. Feidhlimidhe in the Medieval period, the church went through some phases of remodelling.

On the Bodley maps of 1609-10, it was called 'Moyclogh Church' with a round tower. But by 1622, in the Clogher visitation book, it is described as being in ruins.

The site is also associated with the Maguire chieftains. Gilla Patrick Maguire was killed at the altar, while Don Maguire was killed at the entrance during internal feuds.

"Some believe that these acts in some way deconsecrated the church, and led to its decline and eventual abandonment," said George.

"But, for me, what often intrigues me is the stories behind these graveyards – the social history and peculiarities of who lies in the consecrated ground within."

George spoke to Bridie Curran (nee Mulligan) who lived and played within the graveyard.

Her family moved into the house within the graveyard boundary in 1939 when she was two months old.

"She was born on September 3, 1939, a significant date in European history, the start of World War II.

"It's hardly surprising that Bridie has been blessed with a cure," said George. "Although just three days after they had moved to Aghalurcher, her father had died of Tuberculosis."

Bridie was the youngest of 11 children – six boys and five girls – and is today the only surviving child of the family.

The house had only two bedrooms, where three or four slept in one bed, and with the death of her father, times would surely not have been easy.

Of Bridie, George said: "She regaled me in fond memories of dancing on the top of the church vault, and the marking of old headstones in chalk so they could read the inscriptions.

"She told me about Katie Furey, who lived close by, and how 'she wore her clothes to the ground'. In other words, Katie was a very tall lady, and how she had got into her empty grave not believing it was big enough for her."

Bridie had other stories, such as about her brother, Joe, forging his age to enlist to fight in World War II.

She still lives close by, while the old home sits abandoned at Aghalurcher.

Where she lives now, George believes, is on an old track from Lisnaskea through Castlebalfour demesne towards Aghamore and beyond.

"Indeed, Bridie remembers a coffin stone on this track, and there is no doubt that Aghalurcher in its heyday would have been a stopping point for pilgrims journeying from Dublin to Lough Derg."

There are about 300 inscribed graves at Aghalurcher, including the powerful Maguire and McManus clans.

But the Balfour family also have graves there, including Cicely, the daughter of Sir Robert Byron.

Former MP James Galbraith (1673) is also buried there.

And then there is the military history: "People like Major Arthur noble and James Foster, who fought in the Williamite War [1688-91].

"James Foster is believed to have been killed in the Battle of Newtownbutler.

"There was Pioneer James Harte who died on active service in 1918, the son of Ellen McManus.

"And Corporal William Plunkett from Derryadd, killed on January 1, 1918, at St. Quentin, buried at Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery, France, but commemorated in this graveyard."

There are also those from religious orders such as former pastor James Johnston (1665), Rev. Adam Nixon (1716), and Fr. Friar John Maguire, a "master of theology and law" from Knockninny.

But alongside these, others piqued George's interest: "So many interesting headstones and slabs, but you may also remark on the number of little stones of all shapes and sizes, [for] the people who could not afford a headstone with a name or date, and also maybe those who were not allowed, including unbaptised infants – a concept used by theologians in their efforts to define the need for baptism for salvation.

"The choice of an old, derelict church site is not an unusual location to pick [for such burials]."

The church and graveyard bring together an eclectic mix of society throughout the centuries, but while those buried there may be from different eras and classes in life, in death, they are all the same.

As George puts it, about the ground in this ancient caldragh, those in it are "composted in soil, communed in mortality".