Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

In the N wall of the nave of Ennis Friary (CL033-082001-). A fossiliferous limestone mural tablet (H 0.48m; Wth 0.6m), much weathered and broken in two, with a Latin inscription in Roman capitals commemorating Laurence O’Hehir of Dromkarhin, dated 16(21). The inscription reads ‘QUISQUIS ERIS QUI TRANSIERIS STA PERLEGE PLORA SUM QUOD ERIS FUERAMQUE QUOD ES PRO ME PRECOR ORA. QUOD CINIS ET PULVIS QUOD SORDIDA TERRA SUPERTAS QUOD REDIS IN CINERES NON MENINISSES NOCET GEN ORATE PRO ANIMA LAURENTII O’HEHIR DE DROMKARHIN QUI HUNC…UMULU FIERI FECIT PRO SE ET SUIS SU…CESSORIBUS ANNO DNI 16…(apparently 21).’ (Westropp 1895-7, 36). This translates as ‘Whoever you will be who shall pass by, stand, read, weep. I am what you will be, and I had been what you are. I ask that you pray for me. It hurts not to remember the ashes and dust because, poor man, to the dirty earth you return in ashes. Pray for the soul of Laurence O’Hehir of Dromharkin who is buried here. The monument was made for him and his descendants in the year of Our Lord 1621.’ (trans. Senan Hedderman O.F.M. 1991) (Bradley, Halpin and King 1988, 74-5)

CL033-082019-_01.jpg and CL033-082020-_02.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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.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. 1895-7 County Clare. Ennis Abbey. Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland 3, 34-9.