Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

A 15th-century tripartite tomb canopy, part of the Royal or McMahon tomb, was conserved in 2011 and moved, for protection, to a central location against a purpose-built wall within the newly roofed nave of Ennis Friary (CL033-082001-). The tomb was erected c. 1470 by More ní Bhriain, daughter of one of the kings of Thomond and wife of Terence MacMahon of Corcavaskin (Hunt, vol. 1, 121). By the mid 19th century it had completely disintegrated and the main carvings were rebuilt into the Creagh tomb on the original Royal tomb site in the chancel where it would have been close to the high altar. In 1952 it was reconstructed by the Office of Public Works and stood for a time just west of the Creagh tomb. A number of carved slabs from the Royal tomb that had been set into the 19th century Creagh tomb in the chancel are now displayed in the nave on the rear side of the new wall. Some depict Christ’s passion and some represent Christ and the Apostles. One panel depicting the Resurrection has a carved swastika, interpreted by Rynne (1990, 3-18) as a Christian cross, a sun symbol or a symbol of the Resurrection. The carvings were influenced by the English medieval alabaster style (Hunt 1975, 35-6 and Pl. II; Kearns 1997, 15). Replicas of these panels have been placed in the Creagh tomb. The canopy is of three arches supported on four pillars. The vault of the canopy was groined and although the ribs are largely missing two floriated roof bosses survive. Three pointed arches are crocketed, finialed and pinnacled and over the central arch there is a depiction of St. John’s head in a dish. (Westropp 1895, 133-55; 1895, 34-5; Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 120-26; vol. 2, pl. 235-42, 244-5; 1975, 35-8; Bradley, Halpin and King 1988, 71-2; Rynne 1990, 3-18; Kearns 1997, 14-15)

CL033-082015-_01.jpg, CL033-082015-_02.jpg and CL033-082015-_03.jpg attached.

Revised by: Mary Tunney

Date of revision: 15 April 2014

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A. and King, H.A. 1988 Urban archaeological survey - county Clare. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Westropp, T. J. 1895 Ennis Abbey and the O'Brien tombs. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 25, 135-55.

Hunt, J. 1974 Irish medieval figure sculpture 1200-1600, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish University Press.

Hunt, J. 1975 The Influence of alabaster carvings on medieval sculpture in Ennis Friary. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 17, 35-8.

Westropp, T. J. 1895-7 County Clare. Ennis Abbey. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 3, 34-9.

Rynne, E. 1990 The swastika at Ennis – symbol of the Resurrection. North Munster Antiquarian Journal 32, 3-18.

Kearns, M. 1997 The abandoned canopy and the alabaster influence. The Other Clare 21, 14-15.