Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

This tombstone is centrally placed in the W half of the chancel of the church of the Dominican priory (GA084-001014-), to the E of the massive late 18th-century tomb of Lady Matilda Birmingham. It was uncovered during cleaning operations in the 1970s and is believed to have marked the grave of Meiler de Bermingham, 2nd Baron and founder of Athenry town (GA084-001----). Meiler’s castle (GA084-001006-) is situated c. 190m to the N and as part of his development plan of the new town he introduced the Dominicans in 1241. He died near Cashel in 1252 but his body was brought back to Athenry to be buried close to the high altar (Rynne 1987-8, 116). The slab (L 2.08m; Wth at W end 0.52m; Wth at E end 0.29m) is trapezoidal in plan and tapers in height from its western (H 0.34m) to eastern (0.22m) end. It is broken almost mid-way across its length. The gable-like ends incline slightly towards the flat ridged top and each bears a plain Latin cross in high relief. The stone is undecorated; the irregular crack-like grooves appear to be due to natural weathering (ibid). (Bradley and Dunne 1992, 33-4; McKeon 51, Pl. 30)

The following images have been uploaded:
GA084-001032-_01.jpg
GA084-001032-_02.jpg
GA084-001032_03.jpg
GA084-001032-_04.jpg

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 9 November 2018

References

Bradley, J. and Dunne, N. 1992b Urban archaeological survey - county Galway. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

McKeon, J. 2009 The Dominican priory of Saints Peter and Paul, Athenry: High-medieval history and architecture. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 61, 24-56.

Rynne, E. 1987-8 Miscellania: Meiler de Bermingham's tombstone. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 41, 144-7.