Wall monument

The National Monuments Service's description

In the S wall of the nave of Buttevant Franciscan friary (CO017-053004-). This 13th-century wall tomb consists of a slab with a plain chamfer inserted in a recess, under a cinquefoiled arch with a rounded hood-moulding, resting on clustered columns with moulded capitals and moulded bases decorated with a line of nailhead ornament (Brash 1852a, 90). The hood moulding is decorated with a dogtooth ornament. This tomb is practically identical to another wall tomb in the N wall of the nave (CO017-053014-), although that tomb’s columns’ bases are not adorned with the nailhead motif, the capitals are decorated with a foliage carving, and the slab has a 17th-century inscription. 

 

This tomb can be clearly dated to the middle of the 13th century and is likely to be coeval with construction of the church; the friary was established by David de Barry, lord of Buttevant, and became the Barrys’ main burial place. There was another near identical tomb in the S chapel of the church (CO017-053019-), though the arch was removed from its original position and inserted in the E wall of the small E chapel abutting the S chapel, where it forms part of an 18th-century chest tomb. 

 

Compiled by Anne-Julie Lafaye

 

Date of upload: 25 November 2025

References

Brash, R.R. 1852a The local antiquities of Buttevant. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 2, 83-96.